Contraction in private sector activity worst since 2009 : HSBC

HSBC India Composite Output Index fell to 46.1 in Sept from 47.6 in Aug

India's private sector activity contracted at a fastest rate in four and a half years in September amid tighter financial conditions and heightened macroeconomic uncertainty, an HSBC survey said today.

The HSBC India Composite Output Index, which maps both services and manufacturing activity fell to 46.1 in September from 47.6 in August, signalling a sharp deterioration in business activity across the country's private sector.

The index has posted below the 50 mark, which marks contraction, for the third consecutive month.

Meanwhile, the services sector, which accounts for around 60% of India's GDP, fell sharply from 47.6 in August to 44.6 in September.

According to HSBC, private sector output witnessed the third consecutive drop in new order levels amid weaker demand and a difficult economic climate.

"Service sector activity contracted further in September, with the index dropping to its lowest reading in more than four years as tighter financial conditions and heightened macroeconomic uncertainty weighs on growth," HSBC Chief Economist for India and ASEAN Leif Eskesen said.

The findings of the survey comes at a time when the country is battling slower growth rate, wider current account deficit and a devaluation of the rupee.

The service sector witnessed the sharpest contraction in new business since February 2009, driven by weaker order flows in renting and business activities, hotels and restaurants, and financial intermediation.

In response to lower volumes of incoming new work, private sector firms reduced their workforce numbers. Both manufacturers and service providers reporting job shedding for the first time in 19 months, it said.

Earlier this week the HSBC/Markit manufacturing PMI showed that India's manufacturing sector activity contracted for the second consecutive month in September as both output and new orders witnessed a decline.

According to Eskesen "despite the weak growth backdrop, inflation readings held broadly steady. This, in turn, supports RBI's stepped up efforts to better anchor inflation expectations."

The Reserve Bank of India, in its September 20 policy review, had unexpectedly raised the policy rate by 0.25% as it kept its focus on controlling inflation.

Driven by costlier food items, wholesale price inflation rose to a six-month high of 6.1% in August.