CHINA's manufacturing activity contracted in January for a fourth straight month, reflecting a sluggish economy despite efforts to boost confidence, reports London's Financial Times.
The country's official manufacturing purchasing managers' index was 49.2 for the month, in line with a median forecast of analysts polled by Reuters and edging up from a reading of 49 in December. A reading below 50 marks a contraction from the previous month.
The non-manufacturing index, which covers services and construction, rose 0.3 points from the previous month to 50.7 - the highest level since September and indicative of 'steady expansion', said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
But analysts said the figures showed that a long-running property downturn, weak export demand and low investor and consumer confidence continued to weigh on the Chinese economy.
SeaNews Turkey
The country's official manufacturing purchasing managers' index was 49.2 for the month, in line with a median forecast of analysts polled by Reuters and edging up from a reading of 49 in December. A reading below 50 marks a contraction from the previous month.
The non-manufacturing index, which covers services and construction, rose 0.3 points from the previous month to 50.7 - the highest level since September and indicative of 'steady expansion', said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
But analysts said the figures showed that a long-running property downturn, weak export demand and low investor and consumer confidence continued to weigh on the Chinese economy.
SeaNews Turkey
