Malaysia: Manufacturing PMI falls into contractionary territory in September
The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), produced by S&P Global, fell to 49.1 in September from 50.3 in the prior month. September’s result marked the lowest reading in a year and 2022’s first dip below the 50-threshold that separates improving from deteriorating conditions in the manufacturing sector compared to the previous month.
Deteriorating demand at home and abroad underpinned the headline reading, with new orders and output waning from the previous month. In contrast, employment improved for the first time in 10 months in September. Regarding prices, although a weaker currency weighed on firms, input price inflation moderated to a one-year low. Nonetheless, firms raised their selling prices. Lastly, optimism over the coming 12 months fell due to concerns over a further economic slowdown.