2019.01.0410:17:00UTC+00India Service Sector Growth Moderates In December

India's service sector expanded further, but at a slower rate, in December amid an increase of employment, survey results from IHS Markit showed Friday.

The Nikkei services Purchasing Managers' Index, or PMI, fell to 53.2 in December from 53.7 in November, which was among the strongest recorded in the past two years.

A score above 50 indicates expansion in the sector.

The composite PMI, covering both manufacturing and services, fell to 53.6 from 54.5 in November. Manufacturing expansion was softer in December.

In the service sector, there was an increase in new business. Sales expanded at a slower pace, but was among the strongest recorded in one-and-a-half years.

The employment growth accelerated to the second quickest pace since April, while accumulation in backlogs eased to the weakest in five months.

The rate of output price inflation was marginal, though at a three-month high. Factory gate charges were changed, ending a sixteen-month period of increases.

Cost inflation at services firms softened for the third straight month to the weakest since May 2017 and purchasing prices in the manufacturing industry rose at a slower pace. The level of business confidence in the service sector was the highest seen in three months.