Via Markit:
PMI data signalled a further modest improvement in the health of China’s manufacturing sector during November. New business rose strongly, which underpinned a further solid increase in production. Notably, new export orders saw the first back-to-back monthly rise for over a year-and-a-half. Staffing levels were broadly stable following a seven-month sequence of decline, but capacity pressures persisted, with backlogs of work expanding again. Average input costs meanwhile rose marginally, while factory gate charges fell slightly amid reports of a general drop in market prices.
Despite further increases in output and new orders, the level of positive sentiment towards the 12-month outlook for production slipped to a five-month low in November. Stricter environmental policies and market uncertainty were key factors weighing on confidence.
