The Irish service sector edged closer to recovery in December as both activity and new orders fell at slower rates. The seasonally adjusted Business Activity Index - - which is based on a single question asking respondents to report on the actual change in business activity at their companies compared to one month ago - - rose to 48.3 in December, from 46.8 in November. Although service economic activity continued to decrease in December, the rate of contraction eased to its weakest since February 2008. Falling new business was again a key factor behind lower activity, which has now declined in each of the past twenty-three months.