The Indian service sector started a new year 2020 on a strong footing, on the back of fastest increases in new orders and output. As per the survey report, the seasonally adjusted Nikkei Services Business Activity Index surged to 55.5 in January from 53.3 in December. Further, the Nikkei India Composite PMI Output Index -- which measures both manufacturing and services – also rose from 53.7 in December to 56.3 in January.
The IHS Markit India Services Business Activity Index signalled the strongest upturn in output for seven years. The rebound largely stemmed from favourable market conditions and better underlying demand. With new business growth ticking higher, services companies continued to add to their workforces. The rate of job creation was little-changed from December, thereby remaining above its long-run average.
Further, despite expanded capacities, and in line with strong influxes of new business, outstanding business at services firms continued to rise at the start of 2020. The rate of accumulation was, however, only slight. The uptick in growth was accompanied by an intensification of inflationary pressures, with input costs rising to the greatest extent since February 2013 and output charge inflation picking up to a near two-year high.
Meanwhile, Indian services firms expect further improvements in demand, advertising and the approval of pending projects to support growth of business activity over the coming 12 months. The overall degree of optimism was similar to December's fourmonth high, remaining below its long-run average.
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