The Nikkei Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) measures economic activity (such as output, new orders, prices) and consequently employment growth/contraction.
A number above 50 points towards an economic expansion and below 50 points toward a contraction.
Here is a summary of the PMI numbers for countries in Asia, during November 2016. Numbers in brackets are for the previous month.
- Singapore: 52.8 (50.5)
- Hong Kong: 49.5 (48.2)
- Japan: Services 51.8 (50.5), Manufacturing 51.3 (51.4)
- India: Services 46.7 (54.5) , Manufacturing 52.3 (54.4)
- Philippines: 56.3 (56.5)
- Malaysia: 47.1 (47.2)
- Indonesia: 49.7 (48.7)
- Thailand: 48.2 (48.8)
- Vietnam: 54.0 (51.7)
The PMI increased for 14 of the 19 sectors in Asia. Below are some of the sectors which showed the strongest growth and contraction.
- General industrials: 57.0
- Industrial services: 56.3
- Commercial & professional services: 56.1
- Real estate: 48.9
- Healthcare services: 48.5
- Insurance: 46.6