Britain's economy is feared to have plunged back into the red after figures suggested the powerhouse services sector shrank last month for the first time in two years. The Markit/CIPS purchasing managers' index (PMI) survey showed a reading of 48.9 in December, down from 50.2 in November and below the 50 mark separating growth from contraction. The result marked the first dip in the services sector since a snow-related decline in December 2010 and comes after disappointing construction figures on Thursday. Experts said the decline for the services sector, which makes up around 75% of total output, gives a clear signal that the economy went back into reverse in the final quarter of 2012. Markit economists said the surveys across the services, manufacturing and construction sectors suggest Britain suffered its worst performance in the final three months of 2012 for more than three years, pointing to a 0.2% contraction in GDP. This would come as a marked reversal of the 0.9% hike in the third quarter. | 
