Chinese manufacturers saw a further improvement in overall operating conditions in August. That said, the pace of improvement eased to a fractional pace as both output and new order growth slowed and job shedding in the sector persisted. Meanwhile, input costs declined for the first time in three months while increased competition for new business led manufacturers to reduce their selling prices. After adjusting for seasonal factors, the HSBC Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI™) – a composite indicator designed to provide a single-figure snapshot of operating conditions in the manufacturing economy – posted at 50.2 in ... (full story)