The RatingDog China General Composite PMI climbed to 52.1 in August 2026, up from July’s four‑month low of 50.8, indicating a quicker expansion in overall business activity, though growth still trailed the average pace seen so far in 2026. Both manufacturing and services registered stronger increases in output and new orders, underscoring a broad-based improvement in operating conditions.
Employment rose for the fourth consecutive month, marking the longest period of job creation in more than five and a half years. At the same time, input cost inflation picked up but remained relatively mild, while prices charged for goods and services increased at their slowest rate since January, pointing to only limited pass-through of higher input costs to final prices.
