Latest news with #NationalBureauofStatistics
Fibre2Fashion
a day ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
China's manufacturing PMI rises to 49.5 in May from 49 in Apr 2025
China's purchasing managers' index (PMI) in manufacturing sector was 49.5 in May—up by 0.5 percentage point (pp) from the April figure, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed. The figure remained in contraction for a second consecutive month in May. China's manufacturing PMI was 49.5 in Mayâ€'up by 0.5 pp from the April figure; this was contraction for the second month in a row. The uptick was mainly backed by a supply recovery, with improvement in the production sub-index. Manufacturers expressed optimism and confidence, with the gauge for manufacturers' expectations for production and operation standing at 52.5 in May versus 52.1 in April. The uptick was primarily backed by a recovery in supply, with improvement in the sub-index for production, NBS statistician Zhao Qinghe explained. The sub-index for production was 50.7 in May versus 49.8 in April, while the gauge for new orders came in at 49.8 in May—up from 49.2 in April. Chinese manufacturers expressed optimism and confidence, with the gauge for manufacturers' expectations for production and operation standing at 52.5 in May versus 52.1 in April, state-controlled media outlets reported. The country's official composite PMI, which encompasses both manufacturing and non-manufacturing activities, rose from 50.2 in April to 50.4 in May. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Economic Times
a day ago
- Business
- Economic Times
China's factory activity contraction eases after trade war truce
iStock The strength of manufacturing in the months ahead is still in question given an uncertain export outlook, and especially as tensions rise again in recent days with Washington. China's factory activity contracted at a slower rate in May after a reprieve in the tariff war with the US unclogged trade flows, even as weak domestic demand continues to weigh on the economy. The official manufacturing purchasing managers' index was 49.5, versus 49 in April, the National Bureau of Statistics said Saturday. That matched the median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg. A reading below 50 indicates contraction. The non-manufacturing measure of activity in construction and services fell to 50.3 from 50.4 in April, the statistics office said. That compares with a forecast of 50.5. The composite index rose to 50.4. The PMI figures are the first official data available each month to provide a snapshot of the health of the Chinese economy. The latest readings capture the initial aftermath of the trade truce, after Beijing and Washington agreed to reduce tariffs for 90 days beginning May strength of manufacturing in the months ahead is still in question given an uncertain export outlook, and especially as tensions rise again in recent days with Washington. Although the US lowered the average rate of tariffs to roughly 40% following talks in Geneva, that level is still enough to reduce American imports from China by around 70% over the medium term, according to estimates from Bloomberg Economics. Even so, the reprieve on tariffs has sent trade between China and the US surging. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg lifted forecasts for growth and exports this year following the agreement in Geneva, but still expect deflationary pressures to get worse in China, which has already seen economy-wide prices fall for two straight years. Gross domestic product is forecast to expand 4.5% this year, based on a Bloomberg survey conducted in late May, still significantly lower than the around 5% target set by Chinese policy makers. Economists expect exports will grow 1.1% in 2025 versus a year ago, an upgrade from the 1% contraction they expected in April.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
China's factory activity contraction eases after trade war truce
China 's factory activity contracted at a slower rate in May after a reprieve in the tariff war with the US unclogged trade flows, even as weak domestic demand continues to weigh on the economy. The official manufacturing purchasing managers' index was 49.5, versus 49 in April, the National Bureau of Statistics said Saturday. That matched the median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg. A reading below 50 indicates contraction. The non-manufacturing measure of activity in construction and services fell to 50.3 from 50.4 in April, the statistics office said. That compares with a forecast of 50.5. The composite index rose to 50.4. The PMI figures are the first official data available each month to provide a snapshot of the health of the Chinese economy. The latest readings capture the initial aftermath of the trade truce, after Beijing and Washington agreed to reduce tariffs for 90 days beginning May 14. The strength of manufacturing in the months ahead is still in question given an uncertain export outlook, and especially as tensions rise again in recent days with Washington. Although the US lowered the average rate of tariffs to roughly 40% following talks in Geneva, that level is still enough to reduce American imports from China by around 70% over the medium term, according to estimates from Bloomberg Economics. Live Events Even so, the reprieve on tariffs has sent trade between China and the US surging. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg lifted forecasts for growth and exports this year following the agreement in Geneva, but still expect deflationary pressures to get worse in China, which has already seen economy-wide prices fall for two straight years. Gross domestic product is forecast to expand 4.5% this year, based on a Bloomberg survey conducted in late May, still significantly lower than the around 5% target set by Chinese policy makers. Economists expect exports will grow 1.1% in 2025 versus a year ago, an upgrade from the 1% contraction they expected in April.
3 days ago
- Business
China's factory activity contracts in May, but there are signs of improvement
BEIJING -- China's factory activity contracted in May, according to an official survey released on Saturday, although the decline slowed from April as the country reached a deal with the U.S. to slash President Donald Trump's sky-high tariffs. China's purchasing managers index rose from 49.0 in April to 49.5 in May, the National Bureau of Statistics said. PMI is measured on a scale from 0 to 100, where 50 marks the cutoff between expansion and contraction. Meanwhile, the manufacturing index showed growth in the sector, although the index measuring new orders remained under 50 despite some improvement. National Bureau of Statistics senior statistician Zhao Qinghe said some companies with U.S. business reported accelerated resumption of foreign trade orders, and there was an improvement in import and export conditions. The U.S.-China deal, reached earlier this month, cuts Trump's tariffs from 145% to 30% for 90 days, creating time for negotiators from both sides to reach a more substantive agreement. China also reduced its taxes on U.S. goods from 125% to 10%. But the remaining tariffs are still higher than they were before Trump took office, and businesses and investors face uncertainty about whether the truce will last. Trump said Friday that he will no longer be 'Mr. NICE GUY' with China on trade, declaring in a social media post that the country had broken an unspecified agreement with the United States. He later said in the Oval Office that he will speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping and 'hopefully we'll work that out,' while still insisting China had violated the agreement. Over the past week, tensions between Beijing and Washington also intensified after the U.S. said it would start revoking visas for Chinese students studying in the country. China has lodged a protest with the U.S. over the matter, calling the decision unreasonable.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
China manufacturing shrinks in May despite trade war truce
China's manufacturing activity shrank in May for the second month running, official data showed Saturday, despite Beijing reaching a temporary ceasefire in a blistering trade war with the United States. Beijing and Washington agreed this month to pause staggeringly high tariffs, although US President Donald Trump on Friday accused China of breaching the de-escalation deal. While the two sides reached a temporary truce in mid-May, China recorded a contraction in factory output for the month. The Purchasing Managers' Index -- a key measure of industrial output -- came in at 49.5, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The reading was up from April's 49 but fell short of the 50-point mark that separates growth and contraction. China's overall economic output in May "continued to expand", NBS statistician Zhao Qinghe said in a statement. According to some "US-related enterprises", foreign trade orders "restarted at an accelerated pace, and import and export conditions improved", Zhao added. The non-manufacturing PMI, which measures activity in the services sector, came in at 50.3, down from April's 50.4. Chinese leaders are aiming for economic growth this year of five percent, a goal considered ambitious by many economists as the country battles weak domestic consumption. Zhang Zhiwei, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, said "economic momentum is stable" although companies are operating in a challenging environment. "Firms in China and the US with exposure to international trade have to run their business under persistently high uncertainty," he wrote in a note. Although Beijing and Washington agreed this month to pause steep levies for 90 days, the two sides already appeared deadlocked in negotiations. Trump argued Friday that Beijing had "totally violated" the bilateral deal, without providing details. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
