India’s service sector activity expanded in the month of October, with companies indicating that a notable pick-up in new business led to the fastest expansion in output in over a decade. As per the survey report, the seasonally adjusted Nikkei Services Business Activity Index stood at 58.4 in October from 55.2 in September. Further, the Nikkei India Composite PMI Output Index -- which measures both manufacturing and services -- stood at 58.7 in October from 55.3 in September.
The report further noted that services companies continued to hire additional workers in October. Although moderate, the pace of job creation quickened from September to the strongest since February 2020. Subsequently, companies were able to clear their backlogs of work. Outstanding business decreased for the third month in a row during October, albeit only slightly.
On the inflation front, price pressures intensified in October, with the aggregate rate of input cost inflation climbing to the joint-highest in over nine years. The rate of charge inflation was moderate in comparison, but nevertheless the fastest since mid-2017. Business sentiment among companies operating in the Indian private sector strengthened in October, owing to a notable rebound in optimism at goods producers.
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