PMI data aim to capture the health of the manufacturing industry, with scores lower than 50 indicating contraction and values above the neutral threshold signaling expansion. Photo: Chen Wen-chan, Taipei Times“Holiday disruptions accounted for the month-on-month retreat, which is harmless, as firms expressed clear order visibility for the coming six months,” CIER president Chang Chuang-chang (張傳章) told a media briefing. Hiring activity hovered at a similar level of 58, or 0.5 points lower from one month earlier. Customers’ inventory level was 44.5, 1.3 points lower from one month earlier. Purchasing activity among non-manufacturing firms last month showed a similar pattern of losing some steam with a reading of 52.1, 2.9 points lower than in January, CIER said.

Source: Taipei Times March 08, 2021 15:56 UTC