匯豐服務業PMI半年來首次下滑

Not an optimistic sign for an economy wanting to transition from industrial powerhouse to service-sector giant.

對於打算從工業巨擘轉型爲服務業巨擘的中國經濟來說，新公佈的匯豐(HSBC)服務業採購經理人指數(PMI)可不是個樂觀的信號。

HSBC's purchasing managers index for the service sector slipped from 53.5 in May to 51.8 in June, the lowest reading since January.

6月份，匯豐服務業PMI從5月份的53.5下滑至51.8，爲今年1月以來的最低值。

Any score above the 50 level indicates growth but this is the first month-to-month decline January.

該指數只要高於50，就表示服務業仍在擴張。不過，這是今年1月以來該指數首次出現環比下降。

The 1.7 per cent drop brought the composite index, which comprises this and the manufacturing index, down from 51.2 to 50.6, the lowest reading since April 2014.

這1.7個百分點的環比下降導致匯豐綜合PMI（涵蓋服務業及製造業PMI）從51.2降至50.6，爲2014年4月以來的最低值。

"The slowdown in services activity growth reflected softer new business gains in June, with service providers signalling the slowest increase in new orders in 11 months," the report said.

報告稱：“服務業活動增長放緩所反映的是6月份新業務增長放緩。一些服務提供商表示，他們的新訂單增幅是11個月以來最低的。”

The 12-month outlook remains positive but edged down to its lowest since July 2014.

受訪者對12個月後的前景依然持樂觀態度，但樂觀度已滑落至2014年7月以來的最低水平。

Annabel Fiddes, economists at Markit, which compiles the data, said:“Latest PMI data signalled a further loss of growth momentum in China's economy at the end of the second quarter. In the service sector, business activity, new orders and employment all expanded at slower rates, while optimism towards the business outlook also moderated. Meanwhile, manufacturers cut their staff numbers at the quickest rate in over six years and output fell slightly for the second month in a row.”

Markit經濟學家安娜貝爾•菲德斯(Annabel Fiddes)表示：“最新PMI數據表明，二季度末中國經濟增長勢頭進一步放緩。在服務業領域，商業活動、新訂單數和僱傭人數的增速都已放緩，人們對商業前景的樂觀度也有所下降。與此同時，製造商也在以六年多來最大的力度裁員，產出連續第二個月小幅下滑。”