Services contract for third straight month

SERVICES SECTOR contracted for the third consecutive month in January as business flow failed to recover from demonetisation impact, even as muted inflationary pressure raised hopes for Reserve Bank remaining “accommodative” in its rate review next week, a monthly survey showed on Friday.

The Nikkei India Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which tracks services sector firms on a monthly basis, stood at 48.7 in January, as against 46.8 in December 2016.

A score above 50 denotes expansion and one below this level means contraction. While the index remained in the contraction zone for the third straight month, an improvement in the reading from the previous month’s level signalled that the sector is heading towards stabilisation. “Services sector remained in contraction territory in the opening month of 2017, with both new business and activity falling for the third straight month,” said Pollyanna De Lima, economist at IHS Markit, and author of the report.

The survey further showed that input cost inflation slowed since December whereas average selling prices shrank again, which may prompt the Reserve Bank to go in for an “accommodative” monetary policy.

“PMI price indicators point to relatively muted inflationary pressures in the private sector economy. As such, there is room for accommodative monetary policy,” Lima said. The RBI’S next policy review is scheduled for February 8. While the Purchasing Managers’ Index has remained in contraction zone since November, some firms pointed to improved market conditions following the close of the window for exchanging high-value banknotes.

Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted Nikkei India Composite PMI Output Index rose to 49.4 in January from December’s 38month low of 47.6, pointing to a weaker contraction in private sector activity.