The report from IHS Markit revealed on Wednesday that activity in France’s services sector rose at the quickest pace for nine months during August.

According to the report, the headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit France Services Business Activity Index came in at 53.4 in August, up from 52.6 in July. The reading signaled the fastest expansion in business activity since last November and one that was solid overall.

The solid result was supported by stronger new order growth and a further rise in staff numbers, the report said. Meanwhile, capacity pressures remained evident, with volumes of outstanding business expanding for the fourth month in a row. On the price front, input costs continued to increase sharply, with the rate of inflation accelerating to a three-month high.