"China's Factory Activity Continues to Decline, Prompting Calls for Increased Stimulus"

China's manufacturing activity shrank for the fifth consecutive month in February, with the official PMI falling to 49.1, below the 50-mark indicating contraction. This has increased pressure on Beijing to implement more stimulus measures as the country's economic recovery remains uneven. While the official PMI showed contraction, a separate survey by Caixin/S&P Global indicated steady expansion. The disappointing post-COVID recovery, external challenges, and structural issues have raised doubts about China's economic model, prompting calls for bolder stimulus measures and reforms.