Now Reading: 13 of 19 service sub-sectors post double-digit growth in August
-
01
13 of 19 service sub-sectors post double-digit growth in August
The Story in Brief
Thirteen of India's 19 services sub-sectors recorded double-digit growth in August from a year earlier in 2025, according to the trial Index of Services Production (ISP) released on Thursday, 29 October. Retail trade led with 19.9% growth, followed by repair services and real estate at 17.6% each, insurance at 16.5%, and banking at 14.9%. IT services grew 13.8%, telecommunications 11.8%, and accommodation and food 11.9%.
Seventeen of the 19 sub-sectors posted positive growth overall. The only two laggards were air transport, which contracted 9.6%, and arts, entertainment and recreation services, which shrank 4.7%. The air transport index has fallen steadily from 117.3 in January to 89.2 in August. CareEdge Ratings estimates overall services output rose 14% year-on-year in August, up from 13.5% in July, though the ministry has not released a headline ISP figure. The trial ISP data is published on Thursday, 29 October.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both Forbes India and the Economic Times report near-identical trial ISP data, with Forbes India leading on the two contracting sub-sectors, air transport (−9.6%) and arts, entertainment (−4.7%), while the Economic Times foregrounds the headline that 17 of 19 sectors expanded and the 14% CareEdge output estimate. The Economic Times adds an economist quote linking ISP performance to broader indicators such as bank credit and GST, signalling approval of the momentum. The uniform data means the frame difference is small: Forbes India is marginally more alert to weakness, the Economic Times more emphatic on resilience. The balanced reading is that the services economy indeed shows broad double-digit growth, but the two contracting sectors, especially air transport, which has dropped steadily since January, warrant attention. CareEdge has estimated the headline figure the ministry itself has not released.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): forbesindia.com (neutral report), economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
