Japan -Markit/JMMA Manufacturing PMI for May (final): 50.9

  • prior was 49.9, flash was 50.9

Amy Brownbill, Economist at Markit:

  • The latest PMI signalled an improvement in operating conditions in the Japanese manufacturing sector.
  • Both growth in production and new orders resumed, having contracted in the previous survey period.
  • According to survey participants a rise in client demand helped by new product launches and enhanced marketing strategies led to the latest increase in new work intakes.
  • Subsequently, employment growth was sustained for the second straight month.
  • However, despite reports of a falling yen/dollar rate, new exports orders growth was weak and lower than the average for the current 11-month sequence of expansion.
  • Meanwhile, input price inflation eased to the weakest rate in nearly two-and-a-half years, while charges rose for the first time in four months, albeit at a weak rate