Japan’s PMI Services was finalized at 53.7 in July, up from June’s 49.4. PMI Composite was finalized at 52.5, up from June’s 49.7.
Usamah Bhatti, Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, highlighted a “renewed upswing” in the services sector at the start of Q3, driven by “improved demand conditions and stronger customer numbers.” This growth was largely domestic, as new export business declined for the first time this year. The outlook for the service sector remains positive, with outstanding business levels increasing and strong confidence in the 12-month outlook.
While the combined output of the manufacturing and services sectors expanded at a “moderate pace,” the growth was primarily driven by the service sector, with manufacturing experiencing a slight contraction. Private sector companies reported that input price inflation remained “stubbornly high,” affecting total output. There are concerns that “sustained inflationary pressure” could pose a downside risk to the economy in the coming months.
