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Men and women working with cables in a factory in China

China factory activity shrinks for sixth month in a row

China's factory activity shrank for a sixth month in a row in September, official data showed today, as a domestic consumer slump and lingering trade uncertainty weigh on the economy.

Business • 33 mins

China's Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing PMI showing a slump to 49.3 in September from 50.4 the previous month

Asia's factory activity hit by global uncertainty

Asia's factory activity weakened in September as soft Chinese demand and global economic uncertainty pointed to a challenging outlook, private-sector surveys showed, keeping policymakers under pressure to shore up fragile growth.

Business • 01 Oct 24

China's Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing PMI fell to 49.2 in July from 50.5 in June, missing analysts' forecasts of 50.3

World factory activity shrinks as China slowdown hits

Global factory activity took a further turn for the worse in July, private surveys showed today, a sign slowing growth and weakness in China were taking a toll on the world economy.

Business • 01 Aug 23

China grew faster than expected in Q1 due to a strong post-Covid rebound in consumption, but policymakers have been unable to sustain the momentum in Q2

China's factory, service sectors stumble in June

China's factory activity declined for a third month in a row in June and weakness in other sectors deepened, official surveys showed today, adding pressure for authorities to do more to shore up growth as demand falters at home and abroad.

Business • 30 Jun 23

Full or partial lockdowns were imposed in major cities across China in March and April, including the most populous city Shanghai

China slows as lockdowns hit factories, retailers

China's retail and factory activity fell sharply in April as wide Covid-19 lockdowns confined workers and consumers to their homes and severely disrupted supply chains.

Business • 16 May 22

It has fallen to manufacturers to support the economy during the Covid-19 crisis

Euro zone factories buzzing as demand soars

Euro zone factory activity raced along in February thanks to soaring demand, although the burst of business led to a shortage of raw materials and a spike in input costs.

Business • 01 Mar 21

IHS Markit's final manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index for the euro zone fell to 53.8 in November from October's 54.8

Euro zone factories lagging Asia's recovery from Covid

Euro zone factory growth cooled last month as renewed coronavirus lockdown measures hurt demand, leaving the bloc lagging many Asian peers who recovered further from the Covid-19 crisis, surveys showed today.

Business • 01 Dec 20

China's Purchasing Managers' Index rose from 49.5 in August to 49.8 this month

China's factory activity edges up in September

China's manufacturing sector showed unexpected signs of improvement with two indexes showing that manufacturing activity edged up in September, despite ongoing trade pressure with the US.

Business • 30 Sep 19

China's Purchasing Managers' Index, a key gauge of factory conditions, came in at 50.1 in April, down from 50.5 in March

China factory activity softens despite stimulus

China's factory activity softened in April, official data showed today, in the latest sign that the world's second-largest economy remains on uneven footing despite a raft of government stimulus measures.

Business • 30 Apr 19

IHS Markit's Flash Composite PMI, which is considered a good guide to economic health, dropped to 51.3 this month from a February reading of 51.9

Euro zone March business growth well below expectations

Businesses across the euro zone performed much worse than expected this month as factory activity contracted at the fastest pace in nearly six years, hurt by a big drop in demand, a survey showed today.

Business • 22 Mar 19

IHS Markit's October final manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index sank to 52 from September's 53.2

Euro zone factory growth slowed again in October

Euro zone factory activity grew at its weakest pace in more than two years last month as export orders fell for the first time since late 2014, a survey showed today.

Business • 02 Nov 18

The Caixin/Markit China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index edged up to 48.3 in October from 47.2 in September

China factory activity shrinks again in October

China's factory activity fell for the eighth month in a row in October but at a slower pace as export orders flickered into life, a private survey showed today.

Business • 02 Nov 15

All sectors saw a slackening in the pace of jobs growth, with manufacturing going into decline

US employers see small rise in staffing in March

US private employers added the smallest number of workers in more than a year in March and factory activity hit a near two-year low, fresh signs that economic growth slowed significantly in the first quarter.

Business • 01 Apr 15

The flash Markit/HSBC Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 50.4 from October's final reading of 50.9

China factory sector growth slows

Activity in China's vast factory sector grew at a milder pace in November on shrinking new export orders, a preliminary private survey shows.

Business • 21 Nov 13

Factory Activity