China’s manufacturing unexpectedly accelerated in May, indicating a slowdown in economic growth in the first quarter may be stabilizing. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (CPMINDX) was at 50.8, the National Bureau of Statistics and China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said today in Beijing. That was higher than all estimates in a Bloomberg News survey of 30 analysts and compares with the median projection of 50, which marks the dividing line between expansion and contraction. The reading was 50.6 in April. The expansion may provide some comfort to policy makers including Premier Li Keqiang who said this week ... (full story)