-- Despite softening international demand, India's service sector enjoyed a robust expansion in April, reported S&P Global.
The seasonally adjusted India services purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 58.8 in April, up from 57.5 in March and striking further above the 50-mark that separates growth from expansion, said S&P Global, citing its monthly survey.
Thanks to rising domestic demand, India's services sector in April showed the "strongest rate of expansion since last November," advised S&P Global.
Consumer services led April's expansion in new orders and output, followed by transport, and then the information & communication sector, reported S&P Global.
India's services managers in April were optimistic in their year-ahead outlooks. "Indian services companies were confident of a rise in output over the course of the coming 12 months. Optimism was supported by forecasts of demand growth, marketing initiatives and rising client inquiries," said S&P Global.
India's service sector added to payrolls in April, as "rising volumes of new business boosted the recruitment of short-term staff and junior-level trainees," advised S&P Global.
However, the level of optimism decreased modestly in April from March, "dampened by worries surrounding the war in the Middle East," noted S&P Global.
The India services PMI for April was compiled by S&P Global from surveys sent to 400 service-sector companies from April 8 through April 28.
Separately, India's composite PMI, a combination of the nation's services and manufacturing sectors, rose to 58.2 in April from 57.0 in March, added S&P Global.