China’s Manufacturing Activity Returns to Expansion

China’s manufacturing activity returned to expansion in September, ending two months of contraction as extreme weather eased and some industries entered their traditional peak season.

The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose 0.3 points from the previous month to 50.1, while the nonmanufacturing PMI climbed 1.2 points to 50.2, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Wednesday. The composite PMI rose 1.2 points to 50.7, its highest level this year.

The broad recovery offers some relief, but weak employment and squeezed margins suggest underlying pressures remain.