PMI Services Sector Growth Moderates as Order Flow Weakens

New Delhi: After hitting a 43-month high level in the previous month, the domestic services sector grew at a slower pace in September as flow of domestic and foreign orders turned weak amid competitive pressure, according to a monthly survey released here on Wednesday.

The Nikkei India Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which tracks services sector companies on a monthly basis, stood at 52 in September, down from August's 43-month high reading of 54.7, pointing to a slower rate of expansion.

A reading above 50 means the sector is expanding, while a reading below that points to contraction. The index showed 15th straight month of expansion in September, while inflationary pressure remained subdued as reflected in the RBI's rate cut decision on Tuesday.

Service sector performance in India continued to improve relatively modestly in September, a trend that has been evident throughout the year-to-date, said Pollyanna De Lima, Economist at IHS Markit that compiles the data and author of the report.

As per the survey, new business orders placed with Indian services firms rose moderately in September, but competitive pressure and unfavourable weather conditions as factors weighed on the incoming work flow.

Reflecting softer expansion in activity at the end of both service providers and manufacturers, the seasonally adjusted Nikkei India Composite PMI Output Index fell to 52.4 in September, from August's 42-month high of 54.6.

Nonetheless, the latest above-50 reading was the fifteenth in as many months, highlighting ongoing growth in the country, the survey said.

The PMI Composite Output Index posted its highest reading since the January-March 2015 quarter, suggesting a pick-up in GDP growth.

Lima further said that policymakers would welcome this after the below-expectations figure of 7.1 per cent y-o-y recorded in Q1.

On Inflation, the survey said prices charged were raised in line with the higher cost burden. Food and petrol prices continued to climb in September, which placed pressure on operating costs. In response, private sector companies raised their own prices for the second straight month although inflation remained relatively soft, Lima added.

The Reserve Bank yesterday reduced the short-term lending rate (repo) by 0.25 per cent to a 6-year low of 6.25 per cent in this fiscal's fourth bi-monthly monetary policy statement.

On the employment front, the survey said both services and manufacturing firms reported stagnant staffing levels so far this year, but given the higher backlog of work across the private sector, businesses may be more willing to take on additional workers.

The ongoing upturn in new work combined with muted employment growth led to backlog of work across the private sector... As a result of this, businesses may be more willing to take on additional workers as we head to the year-end, Lima said.

Source: PTI