In January, China's manufacturing PMI was 49.3%

Beijing, January 31 (Xinhua) -- According to data released by the Service Industry Survey Center of the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing on January 31, the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the manufacturing industry was 49.3% in January, a decrease of 0.8 percentage points from the previous month.

In January, some manufacturing industries entered the traditional off-season, and coupled with insufficient effective market demand, the level of prosperity in the manufacturing industry declined compared to the previous month, "said Huo Lihui, Chief Statistician of the Service Industry Survey Center of the National Bureau of Statistics.

Data shows that in January, the production index was 50.6%, above the critical point, indicating that manufacturing production continued to expand; The new order index is 49.2%, indicating a slight decline in market demand. From an industry perspective, the production index and new order index of agricultural and sideline food processing, railway, shipbuilding, aerospace equipment and other industries are both above 56.0%, indicating a rapid release of production and demand; The two indices for industries such as petroleum, coal and other fuel processing, and automobiles are both below the critical point, indicating a slowdown in market demand and a decline in enterprise production in related industries.

Huo Lihui analyzed that due to factors such as the recent rise in prices of some bulk commodities, the main raw material purchase price index and factory price index were 56.1% and 50.6%, respectively, up 3.0 and 1.7 percentage points from last month. Among them, the factory price index rose above the critical point for the first time in nearly 20 months, and the overall price level of the manufacturing market improved.

Data shows that in January, the PMI of large enterprises was 50.3%, still in the expansion range, and the supporting role of large enterprises continued to emerge; The PMI for small and medium-sized enterprises was 48.7% and 47.4%, respectively, a decrease of 1.1 and 1.2 percentage points from the previous month, indicating a slight decline in the economic outlook.

In addition, high-tech manufacturing continues to lead the way. In January, the PMI of high-tech manufacturing industry was 52.0%, which remained at a high level of 52.0% or above for two consecutive months, and the development trend of related industries continued to improve. The equipment manufacturing PMI is 50.1%, maintaining an expansion range. The PMI for the consumer goods industry and the high energy consuming industry were 48.3% and 47.9%, respectively, indicating a slight decline in economic activity.

The expected index of production and operation activities is 52.6%, which continues to be higher than the critical point, indicating that the company's expectations remain optimistic. From the perspective of the industry, the expected index of production and operation activities in agricultural and sideline food processing, food and refined tea, and other industries has been in the high prosperity range above 56.0% for two consecutive months, and related companies have strong confidence in the recent development of the industry, "said Huo Lihui.