Flash Japan Manufacturing PMI™ at 50.2 (52.3 in January). Flash headline PMI reading drops to eight-month low.- Flash Japan Manufacturing Output Index at 50.6 (53.0 in January). Slowest rise in production in 10-month sequence of expansion.
Latest data indicated only marginal growth in operating conditions at Japanese manufacturers. Production increased at the slowest rate in the current 10-month
sequence of expansion, led by a marginal drop in new orders for the first time since June last year. Data suggests that the fall in total new work intakes was caused primarily by a contraction in international demand, with new exports declining at the sharpest rate in three years. Consequently, employment growth eased to a five-month low and buying activity was cut back from January’s 23-month peak.
