India’s services activity rose at a five-month high in August as the HSBC India Services Business Activity Index, or services PMI, stood at 60.9 on resilient demand amid easing inflationary pressures, data released by S&P Global showed. The services PMI was up from 60.3 in July and the headline figure indicated the strongest rate of expansion since March and one that was well above its long-run average. According to panel members, growth was underpinned by productivity gains and positive demand trends. According to the survey, Indian service providers signalled that the strong start to the second fiscal quarter continued into August, with business activity expanding to the greatest extent since March as growth of incoming new business ticked higher. Moreover, it also stated that payroll numbers rose solidly as companies remained upbeat regarding the economic outlook. Another positive development included a slowdown in output charge inflation, which was helped by cost pressures retreating to their lowest in four years.