Hopes for a pick up in the UK economy were boosted after figures suggested growth in the dominant services sector strengthened for the first time in four months.
The latest Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) survey for the services sector showed a reading of 54.9 last month, up from a two-and-a-half-year low of 53.3 in September. A figure above 50 indicates growth.
This follows robust surveys from the manufacturing and construction sectors earlier this week, with experts predicting the October performance should help revive growth in the wider economy for the final three months of the year after it eased back to 0.5% in the third quarter.
Experts said the improvement in the sector surveys and further signs of a marked revival in recruitment may prompt one or more of the policymakers at the Bank of England to vote for a rise in interest rates by the end of the year.
The Bank will deliver its latest decision on rates tomorrow, and while it is widely expected to hold rates once more at 0.5%, some economists believe the vote may show another Monetary Policy Committee member supporting the case for a rise.
MPC members have voted 8-1 to hold rates for the past three months.
Economists believe the October bounceback could see gross domestic product (GDP) rise by 0.6% in the fourth quarter, or even recover back to the 0.7% rate seen in the second quarter if retailers enjoy a Christmas spending surge.
But activity in the services sector, which accounts for three-quarters of GDP, remains "relatively subdued", according to the Markit/CIPS report.
It said the rate of expansion remains the second weakest since May 2013 and the latest reading is still below the long-run average of 55.2.
The rate of services growth was also outstripped by the manufacturing and construction sectors last month, while the report showed that optimism among services firms remained weak, with the outlook reading the lowest for two-and-a-half years.
Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, which compiles the survey, said the overall picture for the economy was rosy.
"The PMI surveys brought welcome news of faster economic growth at the start of the fourth quarter," he said.
He added: "The survey data point to GDP rising at a quarterly rate of 0.6% at the start of the fourth quarter, up from 0.5% in the third quarter.
"Such an improvement, together with the revival in hiring signalled by the three surveys, with job creation hitting an eight-month high in October, may coax more policymakers into raising interest rates before the end of the year."
Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS Global Insight, said he believed GDP stood a good chance of rising as high as 0.7% at the end of 2015, thanks to rising consumer spending power.
Britons are being boosted by rising employment, higher wages and falling prices.
The PMI surveys showed rising employment across the economy, with new jobs in the services sector being created at the fastest rate for five months.
Mr Archer said: "We expect GDP growth to pick up to at least 0.6% quarter-on-quarter in the fourth quarter and it could very well get back up to 0.7% quarter-on-quarter if consumers splash out this Christmas.
"We believe there is a good chance that they will due to their improved purchasing power and high employment."
He is pencilling in a rate rise in the first half of 2016.
ends
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