China’s services activity expands as consumers return, firms benefit from increased demand and output
- Caixin/S&P Global services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to 56.4 in April from 57.8 in March
- On Sunday, China’s official non-manufacturing gauge, which measures business sentiment in the services and construction sectors, fell to 56.4 in April from 58.2 in March
China’s service activity grew for a fourth straight month in April, a private-sector survey showed on Friday, as businesses continued to benefit from a return toward pre-pandemic levels of demand and output, although expansion slowed slightly.
The world’s second-largest economy is facing an uneven recovery and some persistent headwinds, with strong activity in services and a contraction in manufacturing.
“It remains to be seen if the economic rebound is sustainable after a short-term release of pent-up demand, with a number of indicators flagging that the recovery has yet to find a stable footing,” said Wang Zhe, senior economist at Caixin Insight Group.
Surveyed services firms’ production activity and new orders, including new export orders, expanded for the fourth consecutive month in April.
Caixin group attributed the rise in activity to the return to more normal operating conditions as the impact of the coronavirus continued to fade.
Services companies’ operating expenses rose to a 12-month-high, driven by higher staffing costs and greater prices for raw materials. However, efforts to attract new orders have limited companies’ ability to pass on rising costs to customers.
“In the future, relevant policies should focus on expanding domestic demand, stabilising employment and improving expectations, as well as improving the monetary transmission mechanism and creating a virtuous circle of economic development,” added Wang.
Caixin/S&P’s composite PMI, which includes both manufacturing and services activity, fell to 53.6 from 54.5 in March, marking the fourth straight month expansion.