TOKYO (Reuters) -&nbsp;Japan's&nbsp;manufacturing&nbsp;activity&nbsp;contracted for a&nbsp;fifth&nbsp;straight&nbsp;month&nbsp;in March as output and new orders remained under pressure, a survey showed on Friday, suggesting the economic recovery is fragile as global demand slows.
However, service-sector&nbsp;activity&nbsp;expanded for a seventh straight&nbsp;month&nbsp;and rose at the fastest pace in over nine years as the squeeze from the coronavirus pandemic eased.
The au Jibun Bank flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) stood at a seasonally adjusted 48.6 in March, from a final 47.7 in the previous&nbsp;month.
The index remained below the 50-level that separates contraction from expansion for a&nbsp;fifth&nbsp;straight&nbsp;month&nbsp;in March.
"Manufacturing firms signalled further downbeat figures at the end of the first quarter, with sustained reductions in both output and new orders," said Usamah Bhatti, economist at S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence, which compiles the survey.
Both&nbsp;factory&nbsp;output and new orders declined for a ninth straight&nbsp;month&nbsp;but the pace of contraction eased from February, the sub-index data showed.
The Reuters Tankan survey on Thursday showed big Japanese manufacturers remained pessimistic about business conditions for a third straight&nbsp;month&nbsp;in March, reflecting worries about slowing global growth that could hurt the country's export engine.
In contrast, service sector&nbsp;activity&nbsp;growth was solid.
The au Jibun Bank flash services PMI rose to 54.2 seasonally adjusted in March from the previous&nbsp;month's 54.0, the fastest pace since October 2013.
"Stronger demand conditions were reported as the sustained government support for the sector continued and held up both&nbsp;activity&nbsp;and new orders," said Bhatti.
Overall, the au Jibun Bank Flash Japan composite PMI was at 51.9 in March, advancing from last&nbsp;month's final figure.
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(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Sam Holmes)

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Japan's factory activity contracts for fifth month - PMI