Category: sector

China’s Factory, Service Sectors Stumble as Economic Malaise Broadens

BEIJING—China’s factory activity declined for a third straight month in June and weakness in other sectors deepened, official surveys showed on Friday, adding pressure for authorities to do more to shore up growth as demand falters at home and abroad. Services sector activity for June also recorded its weakest reading since the Chinese regime abandoned…


US Manufacturing Sector Contracts Again; Raw Material Prices Rise

WASHINGTON—U.S. manufacturing contracted for a fourth straight month in February, but there were signs that factory activity was starting to stabilize, with a measure of new orders pulling back from more than a 2-1/2-year low. The Institute for Supply Management survey on Wednesday also showed prices for raw materials increasing last month, suggesting inflation could…


Japan’s Service Sector Activity Grows at Fastest Pace in 6 Months—PMI

TOKYO—Japan’s services sector activity grew at the fastest pace in half a year in May as consumer sentiment recovered further following the easing of coronavirus curbs, though high energy and material costs pushed up input prices by a record rate. The final au Jibun Bank Japan Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to a seasonally…


US Service Sector Slows Further in February: ISM Survey

WASHINGTON—A measure of U.S. services industry activity dropped to a one-year low in February and employment contracted, suggesting that a slowdown in economic growth at the end of 2021 persisted beyond the disruption from the winter wave of COVID-19 cases. The Institute for Supply Management said on Thursday its non-manufacturing activity index fell to 56.5…


Japan’s Service Sector Shrinks at Fastest Pace in 5 Months: PMI

TOKYO—Japan’s services sector activity contracted at the fastest pace in five months in January in a sign businesses faced pressure from a record surge in new coronavirus infections due to the Omicron variant. The world’s third-largest economy has seen COVID-19 cases surge in recent weeks, forcing the government to roll out tougher curbs across much…


Service sector bounces back in January as Omicron curbs ease

The recovery of the UK service sector regained momentum last month as Omicron coronavirus restrictions and case numbers eased back, according to new figures. The closely-watched IHS Markit/CIPS UK Services PMI survey scored 54.1 in January, bouncing back from a 10-month low of 53.6 in December. Any score above 50 shows growth in the sector….


Hong Kong’s Financial Sector Faces Talent Crunch as Expats Head for the Exit

HONG KONG—Late last year, Tania Sibree quit her well-paid job as a financial services lawyer in Hong Kong and returned to Australia rather than live a moment longer with the city’s strict coronavirus restrictions. Sibree, who said she had enjoyed the previous five years in Hong Kong, is one of hundreds—possibly thousands—of foreign expatriate professionals…


US Service Sector Index Hits Record High in October; Shortages Worsening: ISM Survey

WASHINGTON—A measure of U.S. services industry activity surged to a record high in October likely as declining COVID-19 cases boosted demand, but businesses remained burdened by snarled supply chains and the resulting exorbitant prices. The Institute for Supply Management said on Wednesday its non-manufacturing activity index vaulted to a reading of 66.7 last month. That…


US Service Sector Activity Inches Up in September; Shortages Persist: ISM Survey

WASHINGTON—U.S. services industry activity nudged up in September, but growth is being restrained by a persistent shortage of inputs and the resulting high prices as the pandemic drags on. The Institute for Supply Management said on Tuesday its non-manufacturing activity index edged up to a reading of 61.9 last month from 61.7 in August. A…


Canada’s Economy Seen Rebounding on Hospitality Sector Growth

OTTAWA—Canada’s economy likely rebounded in August from a slight contraction in July, buoyed by growth in the hospitality industry, though a withering drought will continue to drag on the important agriculture sector, data showed on Friday. The Canadian economy contracted 0.1 percent in July, just beating analyst estimates of a decline of 0.2 percent, but…