China’s services sector ‘significantly affected’ as activity contracted at steepest pace in 2 years in March
- Caixin/Markit services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to 42 in March from 50.2 in February
- Last week, the official non-manufacturing PMI fell to 48.4 in March from 51.6 in February
Activity in China’s services sector contracted at the steepest pace in two years in March as the local surge in coronavirus cases restricted mobility and weighed on client demand, a private sector survey showed on Wednesday.
Analysts say contact-intensive services sectors such as transport, hotel and catering were hurt the most, clouding the outlook for a much anticipated rebound in consumption this year.
Firms’ input prices rose in March after easing to a six-month low in February.
The virus outbreaks and softer demand reduced firms’ appetite for additional staff, with the employment subindex showing continued contraction in activity albeit at a slower pace.
While firms remained generally upbeat about output over the next year, optimism slipped to a 19-month low amid concerns over the pandemic and the economic fallout from the Ukraine war.
Caixin’s March composite PMI, which includes both manufacturing and services activity, slumped to 43.9 from 50.1 in the previous month, signalling the quickest reduction since the height of the country’s coronavirus outbreak in 2020.
Economic activities have been sacrificed to achieve more effective policies against the Omicron outbreaks. I expect the outbreaks will be brought under control, with significant economic costs
“Overall, both manufacturing and services activities weakened in March due to the epidemic. Similar to previous Covid outbreaks in China, the services sector was more significantly affected than manufacturing,” said Wang Zhe, senior economist at Caixin Insight Group.
“Policymakers should look out for vulnerable groups and enhance support for key industries and small and micro businesses to stabilise market expectations.”
As China’s economy faces serious challenges, the big question is how long the country’s so-called zero tolerance coronavirus policy can be sustained, Zhang Zhiwei, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management said.
“Economic activities have been sacrificed to achieve more effective policies against the Omicron outbreaks. I expect the outbreaks will be brought under control, with significant economic costs,” Zhang said.
The Caixin PMI is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to purchasing managers in China.
