India’s flash composite PMI falls to 61.9 in September

23 Sep 2025 Evaluate

India’s flash Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data showed the combined performance of India's manufacturing and service sectors strengthened during September, although the majority of the HSBC Flash PMI indices retreated from August's recent highs to signal a modest slowdown. A softer expansion in new business intakes accompanied slower increases in private sector output and employment, with international sales also rising at a weaker pace. The HSBC Flash India Composite Output Index - a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of India's manufacturing and service sectors - fell to 61.9 in September from a final reading of 63.2 in August, but still indicated a sharp rate of expansion. Prices trends were more benign as cooler input cost inflation allowed for selling charges to be lifted to a lesser degree. Nevertheless, business confidence strengthened at the end of the second fiscal quarter.

The data noted that the HSBC Flash India Manufacturing PMI - a weighted average of the New Orders, Output, Employment, Suppliers’ Delivery Times and Stocks of Purchases indices - slipped to 58.5 in September, from a final reading of 59.3 in August. The improvement in operating conditions signalled by the PMI was nevertheless robust by historical standards, with the respective index well above both the neutral mark of 50.0 and its long-run average of 54.2. September data showed another substantial increase in new business placed with Indian private sector companies. The pace of expansion was sharp and well above trend but receded from August. Several companies suggested that demand conditions remained favourable, but others indicated that competitive pressures restricted order intakes at their units. 

It further stated that although private sector workforces continued to increase at the end of the second fiscal quarter, the rate of expansion receded from August and was moderate overall. Slower rates of increase were noted across both the manufacturing and service sectors. In fact, the proportion of companies indicating job creation in the aforementioned segments stood at around 3% and 5% respectively. The vast majority of survey participants reported having sufficient labour for current requirements. Cost pressures remained more pronounced in India's service economy. That said, a slowdown here contrasted with a pick-up in the manufacturing industry. In addition to greater wage bills, panellists reported higher cotton, electronic component, oil, steel, vegetable and wood prices. Nevertheless, across the private sector as a whole, overall expenses saw a less pronounced increase in September.


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