Private sector business activity in the 16-nation euro zone slowed in August, while the pace of growth in Britain's services sector slowed more than expected, two separate business surveys showed on Friday.
The Markit euro-zone August composite purchasing managers index (PMI), which combines the surveys from both the services and the manufacturing sectors, declined to 56.2 from 56.7 in July.
The reading was slightly above a preliminary estimate of 56.1.
A PMI of more than 50 indicates growth, while a figure of less than 50 signals contraction.
Markit said that its final August euro-zone PMI for the services sector rose to a three-month high of 55.9 from 55.8 in July, topping a preliminary estimate of 55.6.
The service sector accounts for roughly two-thirds of the euro-zone economy.
"The final PMI reading suggests that the service sector recovery held its ground in August, with growth of activity so far in the third quarter in line with that seen on average in Q2," said Rob Dobson of survey compiler Markit.
The composite employment index rose to 51.7 from 51.4 in July, extending a recent trend of jobs growth to four months.
European Union statistics on Tuesday showed that the rate of unemployment across the euro-zone held steady at 10% in August. While hiring increased in Germany, joblessness grew in Belgium, Spain and Ireland.
"Further job creation in August alongside faster growth of new business and improving service sector confidence bode well for the coming months," said Dobson.
Separately, the CIPS/Markit services purchasing managers index (PMI) for the UK fell to 51.3 from 53.1 in July.
Economists had forecast a drop to 52.8.