January's global services PMI rose a useful 7 tenths to a 52.3 level that indicates modest plus-50 growth. New orders edged 2 tenths to 52.0 though backlogs rose a sizable 2.2 points to 50.6. Employment edged 1 tenth higher to 51.2.

Good news especially comes from inflation readings with input costs down 3 tenths to 57.2 and selling prices down 1.3 points to 52.9. Easing inflation is helping expectations for future activity which are up 7 tenths to a solidly optimistic 64.1.

This report together with the previously released global manufacturing index which moved higher to breakeven 50.0 put the global composite PMI at 51.8. BRIC nations were among January's top PMI performers on a composite basis with Canada, France and Germany near the bottom.

JP Morgan Global Services PMI gives an overview of the global services sector. It is based on monthly surveys of over 5,500 executives from 15 of the world’s strongest economies, including the U.S., Japan, Germany, France and China which together account for nearly 80 percent of global services sector’s gross value added (GWA). It reflects changes in global output, employment, new business, backlogs and prices. The Global Services PMI is seasonally adjusted at the national level to control for varying seasonal patterns in each country and is produced by J.P. Morgan and Markit in association with ISM and the International Federation of Purchasing and supply Management (IFPSM).

Investors need to keep their fingers on the pulse of the economy because it dictates how various types of investments will perform. The J.P. Morgan Global Services PMI provides advance insight into the global services sector, which gives investors a better understanding of business conditions and valuable information about the economic backdrop of global markets. The stock market likes to see healthy economic growth because that translates to higher corporate profits. The bond market prefers less rapid growth and is extremely sensitive to whether the economy is growing too quickly and causing potential inflationary pressures. The PMI data are also used by many Central Banks to help make interest rate decisions.

The JP Morgan Global Services PMI data give a detailed look at the manufacturing sector, how busy it is and where things are headed. Since the services sector accounts for the lion’s share of GDP of many advanced economies, this report has a big influence on the markets. In addition, its sub-indexes provide a picture of global output, employment, new business, backlogs and prices.