China's service sector continued to expand in the penultimate month of the year, according to latest PMI data. Growth in services activity was driven by a sustained increase in new business, though in each case the rate of expansion slowed since October.

This was despite a renewed rise in new export business. Meanwhile, staffing levels continued to fall, which contributed to higher amounts of backlogged work. Optimism among service providers regarding the 12-month outlook also softened.

On prices, average input costs rose at a faster pace than seen on average over the past year, which led to a renewed increase in output prices.

The headline RatingDog China General Services Business Activity Index fell slightly from 52.6 in October to 52.1 in November. Posting above the 50.0 neutral mark, the latest reading indicated another expansion of services activity in China, thereby extending the current period of growth that began in January 2023.

Services companies in China also signalled a slower rise in overall new business in November. Still, the pace of new order growth remained solid amid reports of increased client enquiries and successful marketing efforts.

Overall, business sentiment among service providers remained positive midway through the final quarter of 2025. Job shedding continued in the Chinese service sector in November, despite higher new orders.

The Composite Output Index posted above the 50.0 no-change threshold at 51.2 in November, down from 51.8 in October. This indicated that overall activity expanded for a sixth consecutive month.

The rate of growth eased to a four-month low, however, as manufacturing production stagnated and services activity expanded at a milder pace. Total new business also increased at a softer rate, despite a fresh rise in new export business.

Meanwhile, job shedding continued amid muted capacity pressures. Turning to prices, average input costs rose for a fifth straight month in November. However, output charges continued to fall and business confidence declined to the lowest level in seven months.

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