Services PMI improves a bit more but remains sub-50.0 level in November

04 Dec 2013 Evaluate

India’s services sector activity after showing a good jump in October from a four-and-a-half year low, has improved a bit more in the month of November. The HSBC Business Activity Index posted 47.2 in November compared to 47.1 in October. Though, there was improvement for the second consecutive month but the numbers remained sub-50.0 level for the fifth time in as many months and indicated a solid rate of output contraction across the Indian service economy.

The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Composite Output Index too remained below the 50.0 no-change mark for the fifth month running in November. However, up from 47.5 in October to 48.5, as manufacturing production rose in the latest month. The decline in service sector activity pointed to the weakest rate of contraction in this sequence.

The latest fall in the Indian Services sector was triggered by the fifth consecutive monthly drop in new work. Five of the six broad sectors covered by the survey recorded lower business activity, the exception being Post & Telecommunication, while for the third successive month; the sharpest drop was noted at Hotels & Restaurants.

The November data further indicated that the outstanding business in the Indian private sector rose for the first time in four months. On the same time there was moderate drop in new orders placed at private sector companies. Average purchase costs at Indian services firms rose further in November, although the weakest in four months, the overall rate of input price inflation remained robust. Going forward the Indian services companies optimism had hit a a three-month high and they anticipate higher business activity in the coming year.

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