The services sector in Japan continued to expand in March, and at an accelerated pace, the latest survey from Nikkei showed on Wednesday with a 19-month high PMI score of 52.9.
That's up from 51.3 in February, and it moves further above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.
Among the individual components, ongoing movements in demand continued to support the index.
Strengthened confidence and capacity pressures pushed up employment. Cost inflation eased, although charges expanded at a faster rate.
The composite index also moved up to 52.9 from 52.2 in February.
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April 24, 2026 15:15 ET Economics news flow was relatively light this week even as the conflict in the Middle East continued, raising concerns for policymakers. In the U.S., spending data, initial jobless claims and pending home sales were the highlights. Business confidence in the biggest euro area economy was in focus in Europe. Inflation data from Japan gained attention in Asia.