TOKYO, Dec 3 (Reuters) – Japan’s services sector activity continued its steady growth in November, driven by a faster rise in new orders and increased business confidence, a private-sector survey showed on Wednesday.

The S&P Global final Japan Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) edged up to 53.2 in November from 53.1 in October, staying above the 50.0 line that separates growth from contraction for the eighth consecutive month.

Sub-indexes showed service activity growth was supported by robust domestic demand, with a faster increase in overall new work, despite a continued drop in export sales for the fifth month.

Employment in the service industry grew at its fastest rate since January, as firms showed the highest confidence in their future outlook since then.

Input prices rose

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