China's official manufacturing purchasing managers index rose to 50.3 in December, up from November's 50.1, the National Bureau of Statistics reported Friday. It also marked the second straight month in which the manufacturing PMI figure remained above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction. Even as production weakened, market demand for China's factory output showed marginal improvement in December, with a measure of domestic orders increasing slightly. Beyond the factory floor, China's services sector enjoyed a tepid recovery following the latest round of coronavirus control measures. The subindex measuring construction activity declined to 56.3, compared with November's 59.1, as construction was dampened by unseasonably cold weather.

Source: Bangkok Post January 01, 2022 09:20 UTC