Showing some signs of recovery and stabilisation, the headline HSBC Services Business Activity Index rose to 48.8 in February from 48.3 in the previous month, though the growth remained below the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction for the eighth month. Incoming new work received by private sector companies showed slight rise and firms passed on higher costs to clients, suggesting further rise in consumer price inflation.
Sector data also indicated that four of the six monitored categories recorded falling business activity, with the fastest decrease noted in Financial Intermediation. Also, February data highlighted an eighth consecutive monthly decline in new business placed with Indian services firms, saying that the pace of reduction eased to the weakest in that sequence and was marginal overall.
Giving some comfort on overall front, the seasonally adjusted HSBC India Composite Output Index posted 50.3 compared to 49.6 in January, indicating a fractional rate of expansion with growth centered on the manufacturing sector.
Staffing levels at service providers were broadly unchanged in February, with the index measuring employment posting only fractionally above the 50.0 no change mark. Payroll numbers at manufacturers rose, albeit marginally. Indian service providers reported higher input prices and the rate of cost inflation was solid, but eased since January and was weaker than the series average. Prices charged by services companies were raised further in February, reflecting sustained increases in costs. However, Indian services companies maintained their positive outlook for output growth over the coming year.
India’s services sector accounts for about 60% of gross domestic product (GDP) and the contraction mood for the eighth month in a row along with signs of continued increase in inflation, suggests that growth will remain subdued in coming months too.
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