The Hillbrow Tower, an iconic tower used to identify Johannesburg's skyline, is seen as the sun sets, in Johannesburg, South Africa, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 3 (Reuters) - South Africa's private sector activity contracted for the second consecutive month in November driven by sustained falls in output and new business volumes, an S&P Global survey showed on Wednesday.

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose slightly to 49.0 from 48.8 in October, but remained below the 50.0 mark that separates growth from contraction.

Price pressures intensified, with firms experiencing the sharpest rise in input costs in over a year, prompting them to increase output charges at the quickest rate since February.

"Firms raised their selling prices at the fastest rate in nine months, which signalled only a limited ability to absorb cost burdens," said David Owen, Senior Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Headline consumer inflation in Africa's largest economy currently sits at 3.6% year-on-year, an increase from 3.4% recorded previously.

However, business expectations improved to a 12-month high, with nearly half of the surveyed firms forecasting increased activity in the coming year, citing new business opportunities and hopes for broader economic recovery.

Employment levels rose for a second month, though the rate of growth slowed. Delivery times improved for the eighth consecutive month, albeit less pronounced than in October, amid material shortages and shipping disruptions.

Mixed sector performance saw reductions in industry and construction, contrasting with better demand in services and wholesale and retail, highlighting varied economic pressures across sectors.

(Reporting by Johannesburg bureau; Editing by Joe Bavier)