All articles tagged with #pmi
China’s official manufacturing PMI rose to 50.3 in June, signaling expansion driven by high‑tech and AI-related production and a rebound in new export orders, while the non‑manufacturing PMI edged up to 50.2. External demand provided a lift amid weak domestic demand and a property downturn, with policymakers showing little sign of near‑term stimulus despite some improvement in exports.
The June S&P Global US Flash PMI shows U.S. manufacturing payrolls contracting for the second straight month, with factory layoffs at the fastest pace since the pandemic and near the worst outside the 2008–09 crisis (excluding COVID). While cooling energy costs ease input inflation, service growth remains subdued and the upturn is being buoyed mainly by inventory rebuilding, raising questions about the durability of demand.
June US manufacturing employment fell at the fastest monthly pace since May 2020, with the S&P Global US Flash PMI’s employment index dropping to 47 from 51.6 in May, signaling contraction even as output grows. Firms cite elevated input costs and policy uncertainty tied to tariffs and the Iran conflict, and overall factory jobs have declined by about 77,000 since the start of Trump’s second term; energy prices easing has cooled some input costs, but concerns persist for manufacturers.
The idea that you must save 20% for a home is a convention, not a rule: smaller down payments can be viable and even cheaper in the long run thanks to PMI being temporary, with options like conventional loans (as low as 3% down), FHA (3.5%), ARMs, and piggyback loans; pre-approval reveals what you can borrow and what monthly costs look like, while cash reserves for repairs are wise; state programs and UpPayment assistance can help first-time buyers—so run the numbers and consider buying sooner rather than waiting years to hit 20%.
June's S&P Global flash PMIs show U.S. manufacturing still expanding for the month (PMI 55.7) but with factory job cuts at their highest since 2009 outside the Covid period, highlighting demand worries and rising costs even as inventories bolster output; services activity also rose modestly (PMI 51.3), underscoring that overall growth remains tepid for the economy.
The article argues that prospective homeowners should focus on monthly costs and cash flow (PITI and DTI) rather than the sticker price. It notes that first‑time buyers typically put down 6–9% (less than 20% often triggers PMI), a trade‑off that can still get people into a home earlier. A fixed‑rate mortgage provides payment stability and potential tax benefits, though maintenance costs fall on the owner. Renting may seem cheaper but doesn’t build equity, while buying builds equity over time. Getting pre‑approved yields concrete numbers for what you can actually afford, and lenders expect you to shop around. It also promotes Progressive’s UpPayment program offering up to $13,500 in down payment assistance for eligible first‑time buyers. The piece encourages turning planning into action with clear, paper‑based numbers before buying.
ISM’s May manufacturing PMI rose to 54, the fifth straight month of expansion, signaling a potential end to the factory slump, but respondents warn the strength may reflect precautionary stockpiling and ongoing cost and supply-chain pressures, leaving the underlying health of U.S. manufacturing unclear.
China’s official manufacturing PMI rose to 50.3 in April, beating expectations and signaling expansion, but growth cooled from March as new orders slowed. The non-manufacturing PMI contracted, while a private PMI jumped to 52.2—the strongest since December 2020—driven by solid demand and new product launches. Export orders rose, though input prices remained elevated due to oil amid Middle East tensions.
China’s official manufacturing PMI rose to 50.4 in March, the strongest in a year and signaling expansion on firmer demand and better export orders, even as a Middle East energy shock raises costs and growth risk. Output and new orders improved, while input costs surged, suggesting limited pricing power. Analysts forecast Q1 GDP above Beijing’s 4.5% target, but caution that the momentum may fade in the face of higher energy prices and global slowdown, prompting policymakers to lean on domestic demand and structural measures to cushion the oil shock.
China’s official manufacturing PMI rose to 50.4 in March, the strongest reading in a year and above expectations, signaling expansion after two months of contraction as production and new orders grew; however, inventories, employment, and delivery times remained contracted, while the non-manufacturing PMI rose to 50.1 and export demand picked up.
A private manufacturing PMI for China indicates activity expanded at the fastest pace in over five years, suggesting improving demand and an early-stage rebound in the country’s factory sector.
China’s official manufacturing PMI fell to 49 in February, signaling contraction for a second straight month as the extended Lunar New Year holiday disrupted output; the composite and non-manufacturing PMIs also softened. A separate private PMI rose to 52.1, the strongest since December 2020, helped by solid export orders, underscoring divergent signals between official data and private surveys ahead of Beijing’s policy targets.
The December 2025 ISM Manufacturing PMI fell slightly to 47.9%, indicating continued contraction in the U.S. manufacturing sector for the 10th consecutive month, with mixed signals such as slower employment and inventories but some positive signs in new orders and export activity. Overall, the manufacturing economy remains weak, influenced by tariffs, geopolitical issues, and demand uncertainties.
China's services sector growth slowed to a six-month low in December, with new business and foreign demand declining, although business sentiment remains optimistic for 2026. Companies continue to cut staffing and face rising input costs, while lowering prices due to intense competition, amid ongoing economic challenges like property downturns and deflation.
China's factory activity unexpectedly grew in December, ending an eight-month decline, driven by pre-holiday stockpiling and domestic demand, but overall economic challenges such as property downturn and weak exports persist, indicating a short-lived recovery rather than a sustained upturn.