Chris Williamson and Markit

Markit: Financial data firm Markit said its "flash" or preliminary services sector purchasing managers index slipped to 52.7 in February from 56.7 in January. A reading above 50 signals expansion in economic activity. , according to Reuters. "The unusually severe winter weather undoubtedly looks to have taken its toll on the economy in the first quarter," said Chris Williamson, Markit's chief economist. NEW Growth in the services sector as well as the pace of hiring slowed in February, an industry report showed on Monday, the latest data to suggest an unusually cold winter is dragging on economic activity. Service sector employers continued adding staff, but at the slowest pace in almost a year. At 52.0, down from 54.1 in January, the employment component notched its lowest reading since March 2013. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.