Brazil services activity shrinks 0.4% in May, missing forecasts

BRASILIA, July 15 (Reuters) - Services activity in Brazil fell 0.4% in May from April on a seasonally adjusted basis, government statistics agency IBGE said on Wednesday, missing economists' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 0.1% monthly increase.

The decline was driven by transport services, which fell 1.0%, and other services, down 1.9%, reversing gains recorded in April.

Professional and administrative services rose 1.9%, services provided to households edged up 0.2%, while information and communication services were unchanged.

From a year earlier, services activity rose 0.4%, below economists' expectations for a 0.9% increase in a Reuters poll.