MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
China's manufacturing misses expectations in August; stimulus considered
The official data measures activity in China's bigger factories, many of which are government-backed businesses. 
But the closely-watched private survey by banking group HSBC also showed a fall in factory activity, particularly in the smaller companies China's manufacturing activity missed expectations in August, indicating that the country's economy may be losing momentum and require more stimulus. The official purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to 51.1 for the first time in seven months from 51.7 in July, the National Bureau of Statistics said.
Economists had forecast a reading of 51.2. The PMI is a key gauge of the sector's health and any reading above 50 indicates expansion.
The data measures activity in China's bigger factories, many of which are government-backed businesses.
The weaker-than-expected numbers may pressure the Chinese government into increasing easing measures in order to meet its annual growth target of 7.5%.
Julian Evans-Pritchard, China Economist at Capital Economics said the data shows “economic conditions have softened” and that a gradual slowdown is expected in the coming months.
“Broadly speaking, today's PMI reading suggests that downwards pressure on the economy, as a result of slowing investment in sectors with overcapacity, particularly property, is no longer being fully offset by policy support measures.”
Meanwhile, a closely-watched private survey by banking group HSBC also showed a fall in factory activity.
Its final PMI reading for August slipped to 50.2 from 51.7 in July, marking its lowest level in three months. The private survey measures activity in smaller factories in China.
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Read all commentsPerhaps if Europe stops all imports from China the like of Italy etc. will be able to make and build things for European consumers and undercut china,
Sep 01st, 2014 - 06:48 pm 0just a silly thought..
Haven't you heard, Italy is on perpetual holiday, it is the Latin temperment. They have so many days off celebrating someone in the past history. Brazil is in recession because of the World Cup ( too many days off )
Sep 01st, 2014 - 09:49 pm 0China is undergoing a very deep purge of curruption and a shift from a export dependent country towards a couuntry whith a much larger share of its domestic market absorbiing production. They can be the worlds first superpower or the whole thing can come down on them like a house of cards
Sep 01st, 2014 - 10:33 pm 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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