Services sector’s strongest growth rates in around 14 years: PMI data
STORIES, ANALYSES, EXPERT VIEWS
India's services sector moderated in April on a monthly basis, yet it maintained strength due to strong domestic and international demand, leading to heightened business confidence reaching a three-month peak, as per by a survey released Monday.
India's HSBC Services Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 60.8 in April from 61.2 in March. Preliminary estimate pegged the figure at 61.7. Even though the headline figure shows a moderation, it remained one of the fastest growth rates in just under 14 years, the firm said in a press release.
Since August 2021, the services sector has consistently remained above the threshold of 50, which distinguishes growth from contraction.
A similar dataset tracking India's manufacturing sector too showed that there was some moderation in April, to 58.8. This softening in manufacturing & services dragged the overall Composite PMI reading of India to 61.5 from March's eight-month high of 61.8.
Yet, this was one of the highest reading seen in close to 14 years.
India's services sector, still dominant: "India's service activity rose at a slightly softer pace in April, backed by a further rise in new orders, with notable strength in domestic demand," noted Pranjul Bhandari, chief India economist at HSBC.
Business activity in finance and insurance saw a 'steep' growth, survey showed.
