China services growth softens in fresh sign of weakness
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The services recovery driven by increased mobility appears to have reached its peak.
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BEIJING – Expansion in China’s services industry slowed in June
The Caixin China services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) declined to 53.9 from 57.1 in May, Caixin and S&P Global said in a statement on Wednesday, the weakest since January and well below the median forecast of 56.2 among economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Any reading over 50 indicates an expansion from the prior month, while a number below that suggests contraction.
The drop indicates the stronger leg in China’s K-shaped economic recovery in 2023 is losing momentum as consumers scale back spending on services such as travel and restaurants amid elevated youth unemployment and a gloomy income outlook.
In a K-shaped recovery, some parts of the economy may experience strong growth while others continue to decline.
The data will likely spur more calls for the government to ramp up measures to support growth.
“The pressure is mounting to stabilise employment,” said Mr Bruce Pang, chief economist and head of research for Greater China at Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. “Measures already introduced have mainly focused on providing a floor to economic growth. But we need more comprehensive, larger-scale and stronger-than-expected policy support at a time when market demand and confidence have not yet had a clear recovery.”
Gauges for mainland China and Hong Kong stocks extended losses after the data was released, with the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index sliding as much as 1.7 per cent. The offshore yuan erased morning gains.
Domestic travel spending during the recent holiday for the Dragon Boat Festival was lower than pre-pandemic levels.
The services recovery driven by increased mobility appears to have reached its peak, said Mr Tommy Xie, head of Greater China research at OCBC.
“The next task for China is transitioning from a recovery-driven growth model to an expansionary growth model,” Mr Xie said. “That will require policy support.”
The Caixin survey focuses on smaller firms compared with the official services PMI. Results published last week for the government-led poll showed the services expansion moderating for a third straight month. The manufacturing industry is struggling to rebound from months of contraction, according to official data. BLOOMBERG
