Brazil's services sector undershoots growth forecasts in February

SAO PAULO, April 14 (Reuters) - Brazil's services activity grew less than expected in February compared with the previous month, data from the statistics agency IBGE showed on Tuesday, as still-tight financial conditions weighed on the last full reading before the central bank started easing policy.

* The sector, the main driver of Latin America's largest economy, expanded 0.1% in February from January, IBGE said, slowing from a 0.2% increase the previous month.

* Economists in a Reuters poll had expected a 0.5% increase.

* Three of the five groups surveyed posted growth in February, IBGE said.

* Persistent price pressures in the sector remain a concern for Brazil's central bank, which last month began an easing cycle with a cautious 25-basis-point cut to 14.75% after holding interest rates near a two-decade high to curb inflation.

* Services output rose 0.5% year-on-year, also well below expectations of a 1.7% increase. (Reporting by Isabel Teles; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)