Mumbai, Feb. 24 -- US business activity growth came close to stalling in February, according to flash PMI survey data, as a renewed fall in services output offset faster manufacturing growth.
New order growth also weakened sharply and business expectations for the year ahead slumped amid growing concerns and uncertainty related to federal government policies.
The upturn in manufacturing output was also in part linked to the front-running of tariffs, hinting at merely a temporary boost.
Input cost pressures meanwhile spiked higher, notably in manufacturing as suppliers passed on tariff-related price hikes and wage pressures persisted.
However, intensifying competition helped limit the pass through of selling prices in the services sector...