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China’s Services Sector Sees Best Growth Since Mid-2021

Caixin services PMI rose to 55.5 in July, the highest since April 2021, however, the survey showed foreign demand fell and companies cut staff for the seventh month in a row


Covid-19 restrictions hit China's services activity in September, which contracted for the first time in four months, a private-sector business survey showed.
The world's second-largest economy is stabilising and improving but still faces many challenges, Premier Li Keqiang said.

 

A private survey of China’s services sector released on Wednesday showed the best growth for 15 months in July, suggesting a bounce in consumer confidence as Covid restrictions were eased.

The Caixin services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 55.5 in July, which was the highest level since April 2021 and beat the healthy result – 54.5 – from June.

However, the overall picture was mixed, as the survey showed foreign demand fell and companies cut staff for the seventh month in a row.

The 50-point mark separates growth from contraction on a monthly basis.

The reading contrasted with China‘s official services PMI on Sunday which showed growth moderated, but both gauges still pointed to solid expansion in the hard-hit sector while the country’s manufacturers struggled.

A sub-index for new business soared to nine-month high, thanks to improved domestic demand, but new export business contracted for the seventh successive month, the Caixin survey showed.

 

ALSO SEE: China Economy Falters as Factory, Property, Job Woes Mount

 

 

Inflation Up, Firms Not Investing

Meanwhile, the rate of cost inflation in the services sector picked up for the first time since March as prices for food, fuel, raw materials and staff remained high.

And some market watchers are not sure how long the Covid reopening boost will last.

Fresh virus flare-ups have led to tightening curbs on activity in some cities in recent weeks, while the property market is in a deepening slump and global demand is faltering. Many businesses have put big spending plans on hold and are trying to cut costs.

“Beware the July rebound narrative. Markets are convinced that easing lockdowns mean the worst is over, but July data show that firms are still largely refusing to invest, borrow and especially now, hire,” Leland Miller, chief executive at data firm China Beige Book, said.

“This is likely because companies simply do not believe that their Covid Zero nightmare is over.”

Caixin’s July composite PMI, which includes both manufacturing and services activity, fell to 54.0 from 55.3 the month prior. The Caixin PMI is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to purchasing managers inChina.

The country’s top leaders last week signalled their preparedness to miss the government growth target of around 5.5% for 2022. Analysts polled by Reuters have forecast growth to slow to 4.0% this year.

 

  • Reuters with additional editing by Jim Pollard

 

 

ALSO SEE:

 

Falling Business, Consumer Confidence Hinders China Recovery

 

China’s Shenzhen Orders ‘Closed-Loop’ Working to Curb Covid

 

China Property Crisis to Boost Corporate Defaults: JPMorgan

 

 

 

Jim Pollard

Jim Pollard is an Australian journalist based in Thailand since 1999. He worked for News Ltd papers in Sydney, Perth, London and Melbourne before travelling through SE Asia in the late 90s. He was a senior editor at The Nation for 17+ years.