China services growth slows to three month low in October

China's RatingDog services purchasing managers' index fell to 50.8 in October from 51.6 in September, its weakest reading since July and below the median forecast of 51.7 in a Bloomberg survey, which had expected a rise.

Why it matters: Services are the larger half of China's economy, and a second month of falling selling prices alongside the fastest input cost inflation in five months points to discounting and margin pressure rather than a demand led slowdown alone.

Data as of RatingDog China General Services PMI for October 2026, released November 4, 2026 Beijing time. The survey publisher's own release was not obtained directly in this run; the figures are Bloomberg's and Reuters' reporting of the release, read via the live browser and corroborated across both wires, which agree on the headline index, the September comparison and the confidence reading. Bloomberg's article was readable only in its opening paragraphs behind a registration wall. Developing item.

China’s services activity expanded at its slowest pace since July in October, with the RatingDog China General Services PMI falling to 50.8 from 51.6 in September, against a Bloomberg median forecast that it would rise to 51.7. The index stayed above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction, but business confidence eased to its lowest since July, firms cut selling prices for a second month, and input cost inflation reached a five month high on labour, raw material and oil costs. The composite PMI, which combines services with manufacturing, eased to 52.0 from 52.4.

China services growth slows to three month low in October

Sources