TOKYO (Jan 5): Japan's manufacturing activity stalled in December as demand declined at a slower pace from the previous month, a private-sector survey showed, ending a five-month streak of deterioration. The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) was flat at 50.0 in December, improving from 48.7 in November and hitting the break-even point separating expansion from contraction. "Japan's manufacturing industry saw conditions stabilise at the end of the year," said Annabel Fiddes, an economics associate director at S&P Global Market Intelligence. The decline in new orders in December was the softest since May 2024, the survey showed. Although many firms noted subdued demand, some saw sales had improved, underpinned by new projects and stronger-than-expected customer spending.

Source: The Edge Markets January 05, 2026 01:43 UTC