register now for free unlimited access to reuterscom register businessmen enjoy the good weather at lunch time under the arche de la defense in the financial and business district west of paris as warm and sunny weather continues in france march 13 2014 reuterscharles platiau paris sept 5 reuters  frances dominant services sector lost more steam in august and the outlook among purchasing managers appears bleak a survey showed on monday sp global said its final monthly purchasing managers index for services in august fell to 512 points from 532 in july slightly up from an initial lateaugust estimate of 510 points readings above 500 denote an expansion in activity french service sector activity appears to be moving gradually towards stagnation territory and forwardlooking indicators suggest worse is to come said sp economist andrew harker in a statement the composite pmi index which includes the services and manufacturing sectors last month stood on the edge of stagnation at 504 points down from 517 in july new orders in the services sector dropped below the 50point mark for the first time since early 2021 and business expectations slumped to a 21months low sp said the decline was above all due to weaker demand amid an increasingly grim business climate the latest figures for services suggest that the overall economy is stagnating during the third quarter and on a weak footing as the final months of the year approach said harker french economy minister bruno le maire said last week the governments fullyear economic growth projection of 25 was still achievable read more