BENGALURU, April 23 Reuters India39;s business activity expanded at its fastest pace in nearly 14 years this month thanks to robust demand, according to a survey released on Tuesday that also showed easing input inflation and positive jobs growth.

That suggests India is well placed to remain the fastest growing major economy this year after posting strong expansion over the past few quarters.

HSBC39;s flash India Composite purchasing managers39; Index, compiled by SP Global, rose to 62.2 this month from March39;s final reading of 61.8.

The reading has been consistently above the 50mark separating expansion from contraction since August 2021.

Strong performance in both the manufacturing and service sectors, led by increased new orders, resulted in the highest composite output index since June 2010, noted Pranjul Bhandari, chief India economist at HSBC.

The strong expansion was led by services activity, with the index rising to a threemonth high at 61.7 from March39;s 61.2, thanks to new business a key gauge for demand accelerating.

A manufacturing PMI held strong at March39;s 59.1 this month. Both output and new orders for goods continued to grow at a robust pace, albeit slightly slower than last month.

Overall international demand was solid and the composite subindex rose to the highest since it was added to the survey in September 2014.

Strong sales improved the business outlook for the coming 12 months from a fourmonth low in March.

Efforts to meet rising…