The Indian services industry bounced back to growth in July, although the rate of expansion was only marginal, the seasonally adjusted Nikkei Services Business Activity Index rose back above the 50.0 no-change mark in July, posting 50.8 from 47.7 in June. The seasonally adjusted Nikkei India Composite PMI Output Index too climbed to 52.0 from 49.2 in June to signal a modest increase in activity, helped by a first rise in services activity in three months and acceleration in the rate of manufacturing production growth. Growth has now been recorded in 14 of the past 15 months.
As per the survey response, services activity rose primarily in response to a renewed increase in new business, with panelists commenting on strengthening demand conditions. Although growing for the first time in three months, the expansion in new business was slight.
The upturn in incoming new work led Indian service providers to take on additional workers in July. Although slight, the rate of job creation was the quickest in two years. Increased employment led services outstanding business to decline for the first time since February 2014.
Inflationary pressures remained muted during the month, with companies actually raising their output prices at a slower pace than in June. Although, input prices rose only modestly overall, but there were reports from services panellists that fuel, transportation and staff salaries had contributed to the latest increase in cost burdens.
The survey also noted that services output prices rose, extending the current sequence of charge inflation to eight months. Nonetheless, the latest increase was only marginal and the confidence among Indian services firms deteriorated in July. Though companies remained optimistic (on average), the level of positive sentiment dipped to a survey low.
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