Japanese Service Sector Continues to Grow at Mild Pace in June
July 4, 2018 | IHS MarkitEstimated reading time: 5 minutes
Japanese service sector output increased at a quickened pace in the final month of the second quarter, with stronger growth in new business supporting the upturn in activity. At the same time, backlogs of work increased amid weaker growth in employment.
Meanwhile, profit margin erosion was evidenced by input costs rising faster than output prices.
The headline index from the survey - the seasonally adjusted Business Activity Index - registered 51.4 in June, up from 51.0 in May, thereby indicating a stronger pace of output expansion. That said, despite a faster rate of increase, the latest rise in service sector activity was softer than the average recorded across the current 21-month sequence of expansion.
Similarly, goods producers expanded production at an accelerated pace in June. In turn, the Nikkei Composite Output Index rose to 52.1 in June, from 51.7 in May, to signal a stronger improvement in private sector business activity.
Panellists mentioned that new product launches and greater order book volumes had underpinned the rise in output during June. The increase in new work was moderate overall and stronger than the 20-month low observed in May. The rise in sales was attributed to new project start-ups and new client acquisitions.
Meanwhile, order book volumes increased across the manufacturing sector, albeit to a marginally weaker extent. That said, the pace of expansion was stronger than that of the services economy.
To manage higher workloads, firms recruited additional staff during the latest survey period, extending the current period of job creation to 18 months. There were some reports that new store openings had supported the expansion in employment. However, the increase in staff levels was only marginal and the softest since February.
The combination of faster new business growth and slower staff recruitment led to a rise in outstanding business during June. This contrasted with the modest reduction in backlogs observed in May. That said, the rate of accumulation was only marginal.
An improved pace of job creation was also observed in the manufacturing sector, however this did not prevent a further month of increased outstanding business.
Input costs continued to rise during June, thereby sustaining a trend which has been apparent since November 2012. Increased transportation and labour costs were cited as factors driving operating expenses. Furthermore, the rate of inflation was solid and accelerated to a three-month high.
Rising cost burdens encouraged firms to raise selling charges. However, the rate of increase was mild and noticeably outpaced by that of input costs, signalling pressures to service sector profit margins.
Likewise, faster input price inflation in the manufacturing sector contributed to steeper hikes in selling charges.
Lastly, service providers remained optimistic towards future output in June. Forecasts of stronger demand and Olympic-Games related business were cited as reasons to be confident.
Comment:
Commenting on the Japanese Services PMI survey data, Joe Hayes, Economist at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey, said:
“Growth in Japan’s crucial service sector was sustained during June. That said, PMI data poses the question as to whether the business cycle has finally plateaued in Japan. The latest survey indicates that output has expanded at a broadly similar pace over Q2 as that seen across Q1, therefore suggesting the likelihood of another disappointing GDP number.
“However, weak client demand seen in May was reversed during the latest survey. This should support business activity, at least in the short-term. That said, with employment growth having slowed in each of the past three months, the potential for firms to meet any further upswing in demand could be impacted by staff shortages and skills mismatches.”
Nikkei Japan Services PMI is sponsored by Nikkei
Nikkei is a media organization with newspaper publishing at its core. Our flagship daily newspaper, The Nikkei, has approximately two and a half million subscribers. Nikkei's multi-platform media distribution also includes online, broadcast and magazines.
Since our founding in 1876 as the Chugai Bukka Shimpo (Domestic and Foreign Prices News), we have consistently provided high-quality reporting while maintaining fairness and impartiality. The Nikkei brand has become synonymous with trustworthiness at home and abroad.
Nikkei Inc. offers a range of media platforms to satisfy the diverse needs of our readers. At the core of these services is The Nikkei which has a circulation of approximately two and a half million. Adding further depth to our offerings are our premium content and strong digital technology. The number of paying subscribers to the Nikkei Online Edition, which was launched in 2010, has surpassed 500,000. Our fee-based online services have one of the largest readerships in the world among newspaper publishers. Eight years after its creation, the online edition has evolved from a medium for providing news to readers into a tool that helps people advance their careers.
In 2013, we kicked off the Nikkei Asian Review, an English-language news service provided both online and as a weekly print magazine. The following year, we established an Editorial Headquarters for Asia inBangkokto deepen our coverage of Asian economic news. In addition, we doubled the number of reporters stationed in Asia outsideJapan. 2014 also saw the launch of Nikkei Group Asia Pte., a new company inSingaporetasked with spreading the Nikkei brand in the region. Our goal is to make Nikkei the leading media voice in Asia.
About IHS Markit
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About PMI
Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) surveys are now available for over 40 countries and also for key regions including the eurozone. They are the most closely-watched business surveys in the world, favoured by central banks, financial markets and business decision makers for their ability to provide up-to-date, accurate and often unique monthly indicators of economic trends. To learn more click here.
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