MOSCOW: Russia's service sector grew in September but at its slowest pace since May, Markit's Purchasing Managers' Index showed on Wednesday.
The survey's headline figure slid to 53.0 in September from 53.5 in August, remaining above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction for the eight month in row.
"Russia's service providers ended the third quarter on a weaker footing, as business activity growth eased to a four-month low during September," said Markit economist Samuel Agass.
New business intakes increased further in September, and companies in the services sector saw higher levels of outstanding business. Growing levels of incomplete work have been reported in every PMI survey since June.
Inflation in the sector eased to its lowest level in more than two years, even though selling prices rose further, a trend that has been evident in every survey since late 2009.
Positive sentiment declined from this year's peak in July but companies remained optimistic about growth in output over the next year.
"The economy now looks far healthier than it did this time last year and appears likely to maintain a solid pace of growth into the final quarter," Agass wrote in comments accompanying the PMI survey.
The services data follows a similar poll released on Monday that showed manufacturing activity expanded faster in September thanks to the sharpest rise in output in nearly two years.
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