<p>Companies in the UK are at their most optimistic in six years, which suggests that the county has shaken off the global economic gloom. </p>
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<p>Unlike other big economies, UK companies are seeing a boost in confidence; this may be partially thanks to the service sector. </p>
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<p>The service sector includes a wide range of businesses ranging from hairdressers and spas to restaurants and hotels, as well as lawyers and insurers. The smaller manufacturing sector has also seen a jump in business activity and has maintained a two-year high. </p>
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<p>According to a recent global business outlook survey conducted by Markit, a fiscal intelligence firm, confidence in other countries has dropped in the past few months – primarily in the US and China. </p>
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<p>"The UK …is undergoing a period of solid and increasingly sustainable-looking economic growth," explains Chris Williamson, Markit’s chief economist. "Expansion is being led by the service sector, where business optimism has surged to the highest since late-2006. Even manufacturing is seeing the brightest outlook for two years. Exporters are benefiting from sterling's depreciation, which is offsetting worries about slower growth in many key export markets." </p>
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<p>The survey covered 11,000 companies all over the world and the findings mesh with the bright outlook forecast by the Ernst & Young Item Club, which showed a forecast for growth in 2013 of 1.1% – up from 0.6% just a few months ago. </p>
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