Page 39 - bne IntelliNews Country Report: Russia Dec17

4.3 Industrial sectors and trade 4.3.1 Producers PMI
Business activity in the Russian service sector increased solidly in October, despite the pace of growth dipping to a three-month low, according to the IHS Markit report of November 3.
This week also manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) showed some growth in October , with both output and new orders for Russian manufacturing producers eased, but overall performance being the weakest since June.
The IHS Markit Russia Services Business Activity Index posted 53.9 in October, down from 55.2 in September, but still comfortably above the 50.0 no-change mark indicating expansion.
“The latest PMI survey data signalled a weaker start to the final quarter of 2017 for the service sector," Markit economist Sian Jones commented on October's numbers.
The contraction of both the services and manufacturing indexes led to Russia Composite Output Index decline to 53.2 in October from 54.8 in September.
In the reporting month the panelists among Russian service providers attributed output growth to stronger client demand, larger client bases and greater overall client activity.
Average cost burdens paid by Russian service providers increased further in October, albeit at the slowest rate for four months, according to Markit.
"Anecdotal evidence stated that greater costs were linked to higher raw material prices, which in turn stemmed from exchange rate fluctuations and
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