Jibun Bank/Markit Manufacturing PMI (final) for March

52.7 is the fastest expansion in manufacturers' activity since October 2018.

  • Output levels rose for the second straight month
  • firms reporting that overseas and domestic demand continued to recover
  • new overseas orders expanded at a slower pace than in February
  • "Japanese manufacturers were confident that output would continue to rise over the coming 12 months," said Usamah Bhatti, economist at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey. "Firms cited hopes that a successful vaccination rollout which began in March would help to bring a quicker end to the pandemic and allow for a broad-based recovery in demand." T
  • input prices expanded at their fastest pace since late 2018, mainly due to higher raw material cost