Japan's services sector extended its robust growth in October, despite the slowest growth in new orders in 16 months and a resurgence in inflationary pressures, a private-sector survey showed on Thursday.

The S&P Global final Japan Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) slipped slightly to 53.1 in October from 53.3 in September, maintaining a seventh consecutive month above the 50.0 mark, which separates growth from contraction.

The October reading overshot the flash figure of 52.4. While the headline index indicated a solid increase in service sector activity, the sub-index data showed a deceleration in new order growth to a 16-month low.

The slowdown in new orders was coupled with a continued decline in foreign demand, which has been falling for four months, although at a slower ra

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