FX.co ★ New Zealand Factory Activity Expands for 4th Month

The BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) in New Zealand demonstrated a continued positive trend, increasing to 53.9 in April from 53.2 in March, marking the fourth consecutive month of growth, indicative of a stable recovery. All sub-indexes remained in expansion mode, with Production at 53.8 and New Orders at 51.4. Notably, Employment climbed to 55.0, reaching its highest level since July 2021. Despite the overall positive developments, there was a slight rise in negative feedback, now at 58%, primarily due to persistent concerns about high costs and economic uncertainty. Nevertheless, certain manufacturers experienced modest growth, driven by demand from infrastructure projects and resilient niche markets. Though challenges remain, the sector continues to exhibit signs of foundational strength.