Mount Fuji, Japan

Japan PMI April 2021

Japan: Composite PMI in expansionary territory for first time in 15 months in April

The Jibun Bank Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)—which combines the PMIs of the services and manufacturing sectors—inched up to 50.2 in April according to a flash reading, marginally above March’s final figure of 49.9. As such, the reading moved just above the 50-threshold, and therefore indicated the first improvement in operating conditions after 14 consecutive months of worsening operating conditions.

The services PMI remained unchanged at 48.3 in April, matching the reading from March, with new business contracting to for the 15th month in a row. On the manufacturing side, the PMI rose to 53.3 in April from March’s 52.7 reading, thus marking the third consecutive month of improving conditions and the highest print since April 2018, as both output and new orders expanded rapidly.

Commenting on the outlook, Usamah Bhatti, economist at IHS Markit, reflected:

“While some Japanese private sector businesses noted that a resurgence in Covid-19 cases could dampen prospects in the second quarter of the year, firms remained optimistic that overall business activity would improve in the coming 12 months. That said, there is concern the impact of the pandemic will be prolonged further.”

Free sample report

Access essential information in the shortest time possible. FocusEconomics provide hundreds of consensus forecast reports from the most reputable economic research authorities in the world.
Close Left Media Arrows Left Media Circles Right Media Arrows Right Media Circles Arrow Quote Wave Address Email Telephone Man in front of screen with line chart Document with bar chart and magnifying glass Application window with bar chart Target with arrow Line Chart Stopwatch Globe with arrows Document with bar chart in front of screen Bar chart with magnifying glass and dollar sign Lightbulb Document with bookmark Laptop with download icon Calendar Icon Nav Menu Arrow Arrow Right Long Icon Arrow Right Icon Chevron Right Icon Chevron Left Icon Briefcase Icon Linkedin In Icon Full Linkedin Icon Filter Facebook Linkedin Twitter Pinterest