BENGALURU, June 5 Reuters Growth in India39;s services activity growth slowed to a fivemonth low in May as robust domestic demand weakened, according to a survey, which also showed exports growing at a record pace and job creation rising to a 21month high.

The final HSBC India Services purchasing managers39; index, compiled by SP Global, fell to 60.2 last month from April39;s 60.8, confounding a preliminary reading for a rise to 61.4.

However, it remained above the 50 mark separating growth from contraction for the 34th straight month.

India39;s service activity rose at a slightly softer pace in May, with domestic new orders easing slightly, but remaining robust, implying strong demand conditions and successful advertising, noted Maitreyi Das, global economist at HSBC.

Even though the new business subindex a key gauge for demand remained robust in May, it grew at the slowest pace this year due to fierce competition and heat waves across the country hampering livelihood.

However, exports expanded at the steepest pace since the inclusion of the subindex in the monthly survey nearly a decade ago.

With signs of recovery in China and economic activity remaining resilient in the U.S., the recent pick up in global demand could continue.

Strong sales led the business outlook for the coming 12 months to climb to an eightmonth high, encouraging services firms to add jobs at the fastest pace since August 2022.

But price pressures intensified last month from April with…