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China's official purchasing managers index (PMI) stood at 50.3 in March

China manufacturing up slightly in March

China's manufacturing activity improved marginally in March from the previous month, but analysts said the world's second biggest economy remained weak.

Business • 01 Apr 14

The Investec Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index nudged up to 55.5 in March from 52.9 in February

Manufacturing expands at fastest rate in 3 years

Activity in the manufacturing sector grew at the fastest rate in nearly three years in March as the economy gains steam after completing an international bailout in late 2013.

Business • 01 Apr 14

New orders at US factories have fallen in three of the last four months

US factory orders fall for second month in a row

New orders for US manufactured goods fell for the second month in a row in January as civilian aircraft and computer orders slid, official data released today has shown.

Business • 06 Mar 14

Lunar New Year celebrations hit activity at Chinese manufacturers

Mixed results for Chinese services, manufacturing

China's services sector regained some momentum in February but its manufacturing sector struggled, separate surveys have shown, with the divergence adding to the difficulty in assessing the strength of the economy at the start of 2014.

Business • 03 Mar 14

Manufacturers reported an increase in new orders, however output prices continued to fall

Manufacturers continuing to see improvements

February was another strong month for the manufacturing sector according to Investec’s latest Purchasing Managers’ Index, representing the ninth successive month of improving conditions in the industry.

Business • 03 Mar 14

Markit's index for the French services sector fell to 46.9 from 48.9 in January, a nine-month low

French services sector contracts sharply

France's service sector saw the biggest contraction in nine months in February, a survey showed today.

Business • 20 Feb 14

China's flash Markit/HSBC PMI fell to a seven-month low of 48.3 in February from January's 49.5

China's manufacturing hits seven month low

Activity in China's factories shrank again in February, a preliminary private survey found today.

Business • 20 Feb 14

Modern industrial sector saw a monthly decrease of 4.3% in December

Industrial production down 7.5% on an annual basis

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that manufacturing production fell by 2.2% in December compared to November.

Business • 07 Feb 14

For the full year, new orders for manufactured goods increased 2.5% to $5.82 trillion

US manufacturing orders fall 1.5% in December

New orders for US manufactured goods fell 1.5% in December, reversing November's gains, according to fresh data from the country’s Commerce Department.

Business • 04 Feb 14

ISM's index of national factory activity fell to 51.3 last month - its lowest level since last May

US manufacturing growth slows in January

US manufacturing grew at a substantially slower pace in January as new order growth plunged by the most in 33 years.

Business • 03 Feb 14

More positive economic data from Greece today

Greek manufacturing sees first growth in 4 years

Greek factory activity grew in January, marking its first expansion since the country's debt problems came to light in 2009.

Business • 03 Feb 14

Markit's final euro zone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 54 last month

Euro zone factories enjoy solid start to 2014

Euro zone factories enjoyed their strongest month since the middle of 2011 in January as new orders flooded in.

Business • 03 Feb 14

Investec's Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' index eased 52.8 in January from 53.5 in December

Manufacturing sector's 8th month of growth

Activity in the country's manufacturing sector grew for the eighth month in a row in January, but at a slightly slower pace than in December.

Business • 03 Feb 14

HSBC's China PMI fell to 49.5 this month

China manufacturing index at 6 month low

Chinese manufacturing contracted for the first time in six months in January, HSBC confirmed today.

Business • 30 Jan 14

The British Retail Consortium said shoppers spent 1.8% more in December than a year earlier

UK retail sales growth slows in December

New UK data today shows weaker than expected manufacturing output, a sharp fall in the construction sector and a slowdown in retail sales growth.

Business • 10 Jan 14

Companies reported growing demand from the US, Britain and China

Manufacturing sector sees continued growth

The country’s manufacturing sector has ended 2013 in a relatively strong position, according to the latest purchasing managers index from Investec.

Business • 06 Jan 14

Spending on manufactured goods rose by just 0.1% last month

Energy bills push up French consumer spending

Cold weather pushed up French consumers' heating bills last month but their spending on other goods stagnated, while firms saw their profit margins squeezed to their tightest in nearly 30 years due to higher taxes and weak growth.

Business • 24 Dec 13

Liebherr has been manufacturing cranes in Killarney for 55 years and currently has 670 employees there

SIPTU says Liebherr must honour pay increase

SIPTU workers have called on management at the Liebherr crane manufacturing plant in Killarney, Co Kerry to honour a Labour Court award of a 2.5% pay increase, backdated to 2009.

Business • 12 Dec 13

November was the sixth consecutive month of faster growth in the sector

US manufacturing sees strongest growth since 2011

A gauge of US factory activity hit a 2-1/2-year high in November and construction spending increased solidly in October, brightening the economic outlook as the year winds down.

Business • 02 Dec 13

Markit/CIPS Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index jumped to 58.4 in November

UK manufacturing near three year high

British manufacturing grew at its strongest pace in almost three years in November and employment in the sector jumped.

Business • 02 Dec 13

The ISM said its services index rose a point to 55.4 last month

US service sector activity rose in October

US service-sector business activity picked up in October and firms took on workers despite a partial government shutdown, but new order growth slowed for a second straight month, an industry report has shown.

Business • 05 Nov 13

Two reports showed US manufacturing beating forecasts

Reports show further growth in US manufacturing

The US manufacturing sector expanded at its fastest pace in years in October despite a partial government shutdown during the first half of the month, according to one industry report.

Business • 01 Nov 13

Nearly a quarter of respondents said they increased employment during the month

Manufacturing output at two year high in October

Output from the Irish manufacturing sector is at a two year high, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index from Investec.

Business • 01 Nov 13

US manufacturing records unexpected increase

US manufacturing unexpectedly picked up in September, showing American factories were a source of strength for the world’s largest economy before the federal government shut down.

Business • 01 Oct 13

An index based on a survey of purchasing managers in the manufacturing industry was 51.1 in September

Euro-area factory output rises in September

Euro-area factory output expanded for a third month in September as the 17-nation currency bloc’s economic recovery gained momentum.

Business • 01 Oct 13