In February 2025, the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) in China resided at about 50.2 percent. An indicator of the economic health of the manufacturing sector, the PMI is based on five major indicators: new orders, inventory levels, production, supplier deliveries, and the employment environment. An index value above 50 percent indicates a positive development in the industrial sector, whereas a value below 50 percent indicates a negative situation. The PMI as a major economic indicator The Purchasing Managers' Index was first introduced by the US-based Institute of Supply Management in 1948. It has become one of the most widely used and closely watched indicators of business activities worldwide. The PMI is not only an apt indicator for manufacturing growth, it also supports interest rate decisions of central bank institutions. PMI figures around the globe were dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In the Euro area, the PMI recovered from a considerable drop in April 2020, regaining pre-crisis level in June. In the United States, the monthly PMI indicated an even better improvement from low values in April and March. Recent PMI development in China As is shown in the graph at hand, the PMI of China as the world’s second-largest economy dropped considerably in February 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. In March, the index indicated a striking rebound and ranged at a level slightly above 50 index points afterwards. During 2021, the index was characterized by a slightly downward trend. In 2022, the index displayed an unstable development with two significant dips in April and December, finally concluding with a strong rebound in January 2023. The non-manufacturing PMI in China displayed a similar development.

As of August 2024, the Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI) was below 50 in all countries included except for the United Kingdom, Brazil, Russia, and India, indicating a decrease in industrial production. For example, the PMI in the Germany stood at 42.4 as of August 2024.The PMI is based on a survey of industrial companies in each country. It includes questions regarding production, incoming orders, employment, delivery times, and stock. A value of 50 is considered neutral, a value of over 50 points as an increase, and a value of less than 50 points as decrease of industrial production. The greater the deviation from 50 points, the greater the change.

Business Confidence in Canada increased to 55.30 points in February from 47.10 points in January of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Canada Business Confidence - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

In March 2025, the Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) in the United Kingdom was 52, compared with 50.5 in the previous month. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the composite PMI fell from 53 in February 2020, to 13.8 by April, highlighting the dire economic situation brought on by the pandemic. The composite PMI recovered from July onwards, but fell to 49 in November 2020, with a slight recovery in December preceding an even further drop to 41.2 in January 2021.

In September 2024, the global PMI amounted to 47.5 for new export orders and 48.8 for manufacturing. The manufacturing PMI was at its lowest point in August 2020. It decreased over the last months of 2022 after the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war and rising inflation hit the world economy, and remained around 50 since.

Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index in the United States decreased to 12.50 points in March from 18.10 points in February of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.