Feb: Main Services Index 55.3
Jan: Main Services Index 56.1

FRANKFURT (MktNews) - The /ADACI service sector index for Italy fell in February for the eighth month in a row to its lowest level since August 1998, Friday.
But despite weaker activity, both service input prices and service prices charged rose in February to their highest levels since late last summer.
The seasonally adjusted service sector activity index fell to 55.3 in February from 56.1 in January, indicating that the service sector grew at a slightly slower rate in the latest month. The index peaked at 62.9 in June last year.
But in what will be of concern to the European Central Bank, the prices charged subindex jumped to 53.2 in February from 50.5 in January. The February reading was the highest since last August.
And average input prices rose from 61.0 in January to 62.9 in February, the highest reading since September 2000.
An index reading above 50 signals that activity is expanding, a reading below 50 that it is contracting. The higher the index above 50, the faster the growth in the sector.
Among components of the business activity index, business expectations subindex fell to 73.7 in February from 74.9 in January. Incoming new businesses fell to a seasonally adjusted 54.6 in February from 55.9 in January.
The outstanding business subindex remained below the 50 in February point, indicating a decline in overall activity in this category. The index rose to 49.9 in February from 49.8 in January.
And the employment subindex rose to 54.9 in February from 53.0 in January, indicating that the pace of hiring activity accelerated.