India’s private sector activity climbed slightly in August, recovering from an over four-year low as services growth staged a rebound.

The HSBC Flash India Composite PMI, compiled by S&P Global, rose to 54.6 in August from 54.3 in July, above a Reuters poll median estimate of 54.3.

The improvement was led by services businesses, which reported a modest re-acceleration in activity and new work following their weakest growth in 53 months in July.

Manufacturing growth continued to weaken, with the HSBC Flash India Manufacturing PMI falling for a third consecutive month to 52.9, its softest level in five years.

The composite index remained above the 50-mark separating growth from contraction, though it stayed well below the roughly 60 average recorded earlier in 2026.

The figures paint a mixed picture for India’s economy, with services offering support even as factory output growth keeps losing momentum into the year’s final months.

Business sentiment for the year ahead improved across both the manufacturing and services sectors compared with July, according to the survey data.

The Reuters poll of economists had pegged the composite PMI at 54.3 for August, meaning the actual reading of 54.6 came in slightly above expectations.

The PMI survey is compiled by S&P Global from responses submitted by private-sector companies each month, and is closely watched as an early indicator of economic momentum ahead of official government data.

July’s composite reading of 54.3 was itself the weakest in over four years, making August’s modest uptick to 54.6 a break from what had been a multi-month slowing trend.

The HSBC Flash India Manufacturing PMI fell for a third straight month to 52.9, its weakest reading in five years, even as it stayed above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction.

Job creation across India’s private sector accelerated to its fastest pace since June 2025, with the services sector leading the pickup in hiring.

Photo by Gnoeee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Domestic LPG, CNG and PNG prices have remained largely stable across major Indian cities, according to the latest rates published by state-run oil marketing companies.

A 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder costs Rs 941.50 in Mumbai, while in Delhi, state-run oil companies have been selling a household cooking gas cylinder at Rs 942 since June this year.

Tripura’s South Tripura district continues to record the highest LPG price in the country, with a 14.2 kg cylinder priced at Rs 1,119.50, reflecting higher transportation and logistics costs to the northeastern state.

The 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder, typically used by restaurants and small businesses, is currently priced at Rs 2,885.50.

Piped natural gas in Mumbai stands at Rs 51.50 per unit, with no change recorded compared to the previous month’s rate.

Oil marketing companies typically revise LPG, CNG and PNG prices on a monthly basis, factoring in international crude oil prices, exchange rate movements and domestic tax structures.

The current price stability comes even as global crude oil prices have remained elevated in recent weeks, a factor that has weighed on broader market sentiment in other sectors.

Consumers have been advised to check the latest rates on their respective city gas distribution company’s website, as prices can vary by a few rupees between cities depending on local taxes and distribution costs.

CNG prices, used widely by auto-rickshaws, taxis and private vehicles in cities like Delhi and Mumbai, have also remained broadly steady in recent weeks, offering some relief to commuters amid otherwise elevated fuel costs.

Domestic cylinder prices have stayed largely unchanged in recent months despite fluctuations in international crude benchmarks, keeping household cooking gas costs relatively predictable for consumers.

Households eligible under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana continue to receive subsidised LPG connections, a scheme aimed at expanding clean cooking fuel access in rural India.

Photo by Ks.mini, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Finding someone to handle a home-related job is not always easy. A leaking AC, a pest problem or a house that needs a proper deep clean can quickly become a task of its own. For many families, the first step is usually asking friends, checking local listings or spending time searching online.

Mumbai-based Home Doot has built its business around this everyday need. The company operates an online platform where customers can find and book different services for their homes.

At present, Home Doot serves customers in Mumbai, Pune, Noida, Gurgaon and Delhi NCR.

Services That Cover Everyday Home Needs

There is no single service that every household needs. Requirements change with the season, the size of the house and simply what happens during the course of everyday life.

Home Doot offers several services under its platform. These include home cleaning, pest control, AC service and repair, disinfection and women’s salon services at home.

For cleaning requirements, customers can choose from services such as full-home cleaning, kitchen cleaning, bathroom cleaning, sofa cleaning, carpet cleaning, mattress cleaning and chair cleaning.

Pest control is available for common household problems involving cockroaches, ants, termites and bed bugs.

The company also provides AC-related services. Customers can book AC servicing and repairs, along with installation, uninstallation, gas refilling and leak-related work. Both split and window AC services are included.

Why Online Home Services Matter

The way people find household services has changed over the years. Earlier, a local contact number or a recommendation from a neighbour was often the starting point. Today, many customers prefer to look for services online and decide what they need before making a booking.

That shift is particularly noticeable in large cities. People often have work commitments, family responsibilities and limited time for household maintenance. Being able to search for a service online can remove one small but frustrating part of the process.

Home Doot’s platform brings different household requirements together instead of focusing on just one category.

For example, a customer may be looking for deep cleaning before an occasion, pest control after noticing an infestation or AC servicing before the summer season. These are different problems, but they fall within the same broader need: keeping a home running properly.

From Mumbai to Delhi NCR and Beyond

Home Doot is based in Mumbai but now serves customers across five urban markets — Mumbai, Pune, Noida, Gurgaon and Delhi NCR.

The locations reflect the kind of cities where demand for professional household services is closely linked with busy urban lifestyles. Working professionals, families and homeowners may not always have the time to manage every maintenance job themselves.

Having access to different services online gives customers another way to deal with these requirements.

More Than 20,000 Families Served

According to information shared by the company, Home Doot has served more than 20,000 families.

That figure represents households that have used its services across its operating markets. It also comes as the home services industry sees more customers becoming comfortable with digital booking and online service discovery.

For a company operating in this space, customer experience is closely connected to something very basic: whether people can find the service they need when they need it.

A Growing Space for Home Service Platforms

Home maintenance will always be part of city life. Houses need cleaning, appliances need servicing and unexpected problems can appear at any time. What has changed is how customers look for help.

Online platforms are gradually becoming another option for finding professionals for these jobs. Companies such as Home Doot are building around this change by putting several household services in one digital space.

With services across cleaning, pest control, AC maintenance and repair, disinfection and at-home salon services, Home Doot is continuing to expand its offering for urban households.

For customers in Mumbai, Pune, Noida, Gurgaon and Delhi NCR, the platform provides a way to explore different home services online.

More information about the company and its services is available at www.homedoot.com.