Is India's Economic Activity Reaching New Heights?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India's economic activity hit a 14-month high in June.
- HSBC Flash India Composite Output Index rose to 61.0.
- Manufacturing sector led the growth, with significant increases in services.
- Inflation softened, indicating favorable economic conditions.
- Companies are actively hiring to cope with rising demands.
New Delhi, June 23 (NationPress) The economic activity in India has jumped to a remarkable 14-month peak this June, with businesses ramping up production in response to accelerated growth in total new orders and an unprecedented rise in export requests, as reported by the HSBC flash PMI data released on Monday.
The HSBC Flash India Composite Output Index, a seasonally adjusted metric tracking the month-on-month changes in the combined output of India’s manufacturing and service sectors, soared to a remarkable 61.0 in June, marking the highest level in 14 months.
This uptick from 59.3 in May reflects a robust expansion rate that significantly surpasses the long-term average.
The manufacturing sector was the primary driver of this positive momentum, although the services sector also experienced notable growth, achieving two- and ten-month highs, respectively.
As backlogs of work continued to mount, companies maintained their hiring strategies.
Additionally, inflation trends softened as input costs experienced their slowest rise in ten months, as highlighted in the HSBC report.
Survey participants noted that output growth was supported by favorable demand dynamics, enhanced efficiency, and investments in technology.
The HSBC Flash India Manufacturing PMI, which aggregates the indices for New Orders, Output, Employment, Supplier Delivery Times, and Stocks of Purchases, increased from 57.6 in May to 58.4 in June, indicating the most substantial improvement in operational conditions since April 2024.
New business orders for goods producers and service providers saw a significant increase towards the end of the first fiscal quarter, with the manufacturing sector leading the way.
Overall, the expansion rate at the composite level was the most robust observed since July 2024, according to the report.
Survey participants attributed June's rise to healthy demand and effective marketing strategies.
Pranjul Bhandari, Chief India Economist at HSBC, stated: "India’s flash PMI reflects strong growth for June. New export orders have continued to drive private sector activity, particularly in manufacturing.”
Furthermore, the combination of strong global demand and increasing backlogs has encouraged manufacturers to boost hiring initiatives.
“Employment growth remains robust in the services sector, despite a slight sequential decline from May to June.
“Ultimately, while input and output prices have continued to rise for both the manufacturing and services sectors, the pace of these increases has shown signs of easing,” Bhandari concluded.