Chinese manufacturers signalled a sustained improvement in operating conditions midway through the first quarter of 2024, according to latest PMI® data. Companies noted further upturns in both production and new work, with rates of growth quickening slightly from January, helped in part by a rise in new export orders. The business mood also brightened, with confidence around the year-ahead outlook for output reaching a ten-month high. However, firms maintained a cautious approach to staff numbers, which fell marginally in February. Turning to prices, average input costs rose at the weakest rate in seven months and ... (full story)