- Flash Japan Manufacturing PMI™ at 49.7 (50.3 in March). Operating conditions deteriorate in April, albeit at a marginal rate.
- Flash Japan Manufacturing Output Index at 49.7 (52.0 in March). Production declines slightly for the first time since July 2014.
Latest data signalled worsening operating conditions in the Japanese manufacturing sector. New orders continued to fall, while manufacturing production decreased for the first time since July 2014. The rate of decline was only fractional, however. In contrast, employment returned to growth in April, albeit at a marginal pace.
Meanwhile, reports of a favourable yen/dollar rate continued to help improve price competitiveness, as companies noted a rise in new export orders for the tenth
consecutive month.
