Brazil: Manufacturing PMI edges down in March
Conditions in Brazil’s manufacturing sector appear to have weakened somewhat in March. The manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell from an 11-month high of 53.4 in February to 52.8 in March. Despite the drop, the PMI is still above the crucial 50-threshold, signaling expansionary conditions.
March’s print reflected slower growth in new orders and employment than in February. Orders from abroad dropped for the fourth consecutive month and jobs were added at a modest pace. On the price front, input cost inflation edged higher, chiefly due to a weaker real.