Service sector activity continued to expand at a solid pace across China at the start of the year. This was despite the rate of increase edging down slightly from December, and a notable softening in the rate of new order growth. Nevertheless, employment increased slightly for the second straight month, and companies were generally upbeat about the 12-month outlook for activity. At the same time, inflationary pressures moderated in January, with average input prices rising at the second-slowest rate over the past 19 months. Prices charged were meanwhile cut as part of efforts to stimulate new business. At 52.7 in ... (full story)