China’s private factory gauge slows as economy softens
Businesstimes News·- China's manufacturing activity slowed in May, aligning with official indicators, as indicated by a private survey of export-oriented enterprises. - The Purchasing Managers' Index fell from 52.2 in April to 51.8, slightly above economists' median forecast of 51.3, suggesting improvement relative to last month. - Despite a strong first quarter, signs of weakness are emerging in the economy, with industrial production and retail sales growth reaching multi-year lows amid rising export prices due to demand for AI-related products and geopolitical pressures.