China’s composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) inched up in May 2026, suggesting a modest improvement in overall economic activity. The indicator rose to 50.5 in May from 50.1 in April 2026, according to data updated on 31 May 2026.
With the composite PMI remaining above the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction, the latest reading points to continued, albeit marginal, growth across China’s combined manufacturing and services sectors. The slight uptick from April indicates that momentum in the broader economy has strengthened only gradually.
Market participants and analysts will continue to watch the PMI trend in the coming months to gauge whether this tentative improvement can gain traction and translate into more robust, broad-based expansion in the second half of the year.
