BENGALURU, July 1 (Reuters) - India's manufacturing sector expanded at its second-slowest pace in four years in June as cooling ‌demand for goods dragged on output and hiring but ‌easing cost pressures provided some relief, a survey showed.

• The HSBC India Manufacturing ​Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, fell to 54.2 in June from May's 55.0 - slightly lower than a preliminary estimate of 54.5. Only March's reading was weaker going back to mid-2022.

• Despite ‌falling to the second-lowest ⁠since mid-2022, the June's number was in line with the long-run series average. A PMI reading above ⁠50.0 signals growth.

• New orders - a key measure of demand - rose at their second-weakest rate since June 2022 after hitting a three-month ​high in ​May. Export orders were notably ​softer as international sales grew ‌at the weakest pace in 39 months with firms citing subdued demand from European clients.

• Output also expanded at the second-slowest rate since mid-2022 as capital goods dragged.

• As demand lost momentum firms were more reluctant to raise prices. Output charges rose at ‌their slowest rate in three months ​and 93% of companies left fees ​unchanged from May. Input ​cost inflation eased to a four-month low though firms ‌continued to flag higher prices ​for chemicals, metals, ​petroleum products and plastics.

• Hiring reflected the softer demand environment. Employment grew at its weakest pace this year and 97% ​of firms kept ‌headcount unchanged citing adequate capacity.

• Concerns over demand and ​market conditions dampened business confidence to a five-month low.

(Reporting by ​Shaloo Shrivastava;Editing by Shri Navaratnam)