India's services activity at 5-month high in Apr despite inflation worries

While input costs increased at the fastest rate in nearly 14 years, prices charged rose at their quickest rate in around half a decade.

Activity in India's dominant services sector grew at its fastest pace in five months in April on strong demand, prompting firms to add jobs for the first time since November, a private survey showed, but sky-rocketing inflation remained a major concern.

The S&P Global India Services Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 57.9 in April from 53.6 in March, its highest since November and surpassing the 54.0 estimate in a Reuters poll.

While the index remained above the 50-mark separating growth from contraction for a ninth straight month, it was the best start to a fiscal year for the sector since