Uncertainty created by referendum 07/06/2016 12:10 pm Urja Patel In a poll by the Observer newspaper nine out of ten of Britain's top economists believe the economy will be harmed if Britain leaves the EU. The poll found that 88% said an exit from the EU and the single market would most likely damage Britain's growth prospects over the next five years and 82% said there would probably be a negative impact on household incomes, whilst 61% also think unemployment would rise. Just 4% of respondents thought Brexit would have a negative impact on GDP. Reasons cited as to why the UK would suffer were loss of access to the single market (67%) and increased uncertainty leading to reduced investment (66%). Another Brexit poll by YouGov says that the Leave and the Remain campaigns were neck and neck with 41% of respondents voting for each outcome. This has led to a Sterling sell off as pre referendum jitters set in and confidence of a Remain vote eroded. In May, Britain's services picked up after dropping to a three-year low in April, the upcoming “Brexit” referendum still weighing heavily on new business and hiring. Markit's services activity index rose to 53.5 in May from 52.3 in April. Markit chief economist Chris Williamson stated that "Growth has collapsed in manufacturing and construction, leaving the economy dependent on the service sector to sustain the upturn". The survey also reported one in three companies are suffering from the uncertainty created by the referendum, suggesting the economy could rebound if the country votes to stay in the EU.