Reported 5 months ago
Japan's factory activity expanded for the first time in a year in May, as indicated by the au Jibun Bank flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rising to 50.5 from 49.6 in April. The increase in manufacturing output, along with growth in the service sector, suggests a potential broadening of growth later in the year. Despite manufacturers' declining optimism and inflationary pressures, the composite PMI for both sectors increased slightly to 52.4 in May from 52.3 in April, the highest level since August of the previous year.
Source: YAHOO