India's services growth moderates in September as pace of new orders weakens

Services grew slowly in September as pace of new orders moderated amid competitive pressure and unfavourable weather conditions, says a survey.

Services sector grew at a slower pace in September, after hitting a 43-month high level in the previous month, as flow of domestic and foreign orders turned weak amid competitive pressure, a monthly survey showed 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 yesterday.

"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.

"This would be welcomed by policymakers after the below-expectations figure of 7.1 percent y-o-y recorded in Q1," Lima said.

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 percent to a 6-year low of 6.25 percent 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.