The services sector in Japan continued to expand in December, and at a faster rate, the latest survey from Nikkei showed on Thursday with a PMI score of 52.3.
That's up from 51.8 in November, and it moves further above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.
Individually, new orders at services firms increased at the fastest rate in almost a year and a half.
Input prices increased at a rate that was little changed from November's 23-month high.
The composite PMI came in with a score of 52.8 - up from 52.0 in November, and marking the highest reading since August 2015.
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