Australia manufacturing PMI (CBA /Markit, February final): 52.9 (prelim was 53.1)

The second of the Australian manufacturing PMIs, the earlier release is here:

• Australia Manufacturing PMI (Feb): 54.0 (prior 52.5)

This one is from CBA/Markit, comes in at

• Prelims are here: Australian preliminary February PMIs: Manufacturing 53.1 (prior 53.9) Services 49.3 (51.0)

CBA/Markit key points:

• The middle of the first quarter saw further growth in Australia's manufacturing sector, but at its slowest pace in seven months.
• Softer expansions in output and new orders weighed on the headline PMI, while job creation was the weakest in two-and-a-half years.
• Notably, export orders grew marginally. Nonetheless, business sentiment improved.
• Meanwhile, inflationary pressures persisted, with output charges rising at a sharper rate.