<p>Confidence in the UK's economy is beginning to rise, with vacancies reaching their highest level since 2008. </p>
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<p>Figures from the Office of National Statistics showed that 503,000 jobs were advertised between February and April 2013, which was the highest number since October 2008. </p>
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<p>The UK's economy has been buoyed by strong figures from the service sector, in particular from restaurants, hotels and the leisure industry. </p>
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<p>The Confederation of British Industry's <a href="http://www.pwc.co.uk/en_UK/uk/assets/pdf/cbi-survey-march-2013.pdf"; target="_blank" title="pwc.co.uk - new window">quarterly survey</a> found that the consumer services sector had experienced its biggest rise in optimism for six years, with the reading now standing at its highest level since 2009. </p>
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<p>The data showed a marked increase in confidence between February and April, and profit expectations for the next quarter were also at their highest level since 2007. </p>
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<p>The services sector is the driving force of the UK's economy, representing around three quarters of it. </p>
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<p>Stephen Gifford, director of economics at the CBI, said: "There appears to be a sense of growing confidence in the service sector." </p>
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<p>"We've seen some turnaround in activity this quarter, and a more positive outlook for the next. What's promising is that consumer services have seen growth in activity, and expect this to continue pointing to a greater willingness from people to go out and spend." </p>
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<p>This news follows the announcement earlier in the month that the Bank of England would lower its inflation forecast and improve its growth forecast for the rest of the year. </p>
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