New Delhi, April 4 -- India's services sector growth eased in March, weighed down by a slight slowdown in business activity and sales, while international orders saw their weakest expansion in 15 months, according to a private survey released on Friday.

The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, declined to 58.5 in March from 59 in February and 56.5 in January while remaining well above the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction.

The index stood at 59.3 in December, 58.4 in November, 58.5 in October, and 57.7 in September.

According to the survey, March saw the slowest increase in external orders since December 2023.

However, cost pressures receded to a f...