Purchasing Managers Index for September 2023

Department of Service Statistics of NBS

China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP)

 

1. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index

 

In September, the Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) of China's manufacturing industry was 50.2 percent, an increase of 0.5 percentage point from the previous month, moving back into the expansion range.

 

 

In terms of enterprise size, the PMI for large enterprises was 51.6 percent, an increase of 0.8 percentage point from the previous month, keeping higher than the threshold; the PMI for medium-sized enterprises was 49.6 percent, which was flat last month and below the threshold; the PMI for small enterprises was 48.0 percent, an increase of 0.3 percentage point from last month, below the threshold.

 

From the sub-indexes, among the five sub-indexes that constitute the manufacturing PMI, the production index, new order index and supplier delivery time index were all higher than the threshold, and the raw material inventory index and employment index were lower than the threshold.

 

The production index was 52.7 percent, an increase of 0.8 percentage point from the previous month, indicating that the expansion of manufacturing production activities has accelerated.

 

The new order index was 50.5 percent, an increase of 0.3 percentage point from the previous month, indicating that the market demand of the manufacturing industry has continued to improve.

 

The raw material inventory index was 48.5 percent, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the previous month, indicating that the decline of the inventory of major raw materials in the manufacturing industry continued to narrow.

 

The employment index was 48.1 percent, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the previous month, indicating a slight growth in the prosperity index of employment of manufacturing enterprises.

 

The supplier delivery time index was 50.8 percent, a decrease of 0.8 percentage point from the previous month, still higher than the threshold, indicating that the delivery time of raw material suppliers in the manufacturing industry continued to decrease.

 

China's Manufacturing PMI (Seasonally Adjusted)

 

 

Related Indicators of China's Manufacturing PMI (Seasonally Adjusted)

 

 

2. Non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers index

 

In September, the non-manufacturing business activity index was 51.7 percent, an increase of 0.7 percentage point from the previous month, indicating that the non-manufacturing industry has achieved increased expansion.

 

 

By industry, the business activity index for the construction industry was 56.2 percent, an increase of 2.4 percentage points from the previous month; that for the service industry was 50.9 percent, an increase of 0.4 percentage point from the previous month. From the perspective of the industry, the business activity indexes for waterway transportation, postal service, telecommunication, broadcast, television and satellite transmission services, internet software and information technology services and monetary and financial services were within the high expansion range of 55.0 percent; the business activity indexes for railway transportation, air transportation, accommodation and catering services were below the threshold.

 

 

 

The new order index was 47.8 percent, an increase of 0.3 percentage point from the previous month, indicating that the prosperity index of the non-manufacturing market demand has improved. By industry, the new order index for the construction industry was 50.0 percent, an increase of 1.5 percentage points from the previous month; that for the service industry was 47.4 percent, unchanged from the previous month.

 

The input price index was 52.5 percent, an increase of 0.8 percentage point from the previous month, indicating that the overall level of input prices used by non-manufacturing enterprises for business activities continued to increase. By industry, the input price index for the construction industry was 54.7 percent, an increase of 6.3 percentage points from the previous month; that for the service industry was 52.1 percent, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the previous month.

 

The sales price index was 50.3 percent, an increase of 0.3 percentage point from the previous month, indicating that the overall non-manufacturing sales prices has increased. By industry, the sales price index for the construction industry was 51.5 percent, an increase of 1.1 percentage points from the previous month; that for the service industry was 50.0 percent, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the previous month.

 

The employment index was 46.8 percent, the same as that for the previous month, indicating that the prosperity index of employment of non-manufacturing enterprises was still low. By industry, the employment index for the construction industry was 46.3 percent, an increase of 1.6 percentage points from the previous month; that for the service industry was 46.9 percent, a decrease of 0.3 percentage point from the previous month.

 

The business activity expectation index was 58.7 percent, an increase of 0.5 percentage point from the previous month, and continued to be in the high expansion range, indicating that non-manufacturing enterprises maintained strong confidence about the recent market recovery and development. By industry, the business activity expectation index for the construction industry was 61.8 percent, an increase of 1.5 percentage points from the previous month; that for the service industry was 58.1 percent, an increase of 0.3 percentage point from the previous month.

 

Main Indexes of China's Non-manufacturing PMI (Seasonally Adjusted)

 

 

Other Indexes of China's Non-manufacturing PMI (Seasonally Adjusted)

 

 

3. Composite PMI Output Index

 

In September, the Composite PMI output index was 52.0 percent, an increase of 0.7 percentage point from the previous month, indicating that the overall production and operation of Chinese enterprises were gaining pace in expansion.

 

 

Annotations:

 

1. Explanatory Notes

 

Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) is an index summarized and compiled through the results of the monthly survey of enterprises' purchasing managers. It covers every link of the enterprises, including purchasing, production, logistics, and so on. It is one of the leading indices which was commonly adopted by international society to monitor the macroeconomic trends and played an important role in forecasting and monitoring. The Composite PMI Output Index, belonging to the PMI indicator system, is a composite index reflecting the changes in the output in the current period of the entire industry (manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries). If the PMI is above 50 percent, it reflects the overall economy is expanding; if less than 50 percent, it reflects the overall economy is in recession.

 

2. Statistical Coverage

 

The survey involves 31 divisions of the manufacturing industry in the “Industrial Classification for National Economic Activities” (GB/T4754-2017), and 3200 samples, as well as 43 divisions of the non-manufacturing industry, and 4300 samples.

 

3. Survey Methods

 

PPS (Probability Proportional to Size) sampling method was adopted in purchasing managers’ survey. Using the divisions of the manufacturing or non-manufacturing industry as the selecting strata, the sample size of each division is proportional to its proportion of the value-added of the division to the total value-added of the manufacturing or non-manufacturing industry. Within the stratum, the samples are selected according to the probabilities proportional to their principal business revenues of the enterprises.

 

The survey was organized and conducted by staff members of survey offices, monthly through the Online Reporting System of NBS by sending survey questionnaires to the purchasing managers of the selected enterprises.

 

4. Calculation Methods

 

(1) Calculation Methods of Sub-indices. The indicator system of the manufacturing purchasing managers’ survey covers 13 sub-indices such as production, new orders, new export orders, existing orders, finished goods inventory, purchase, import, purchase price, producer price, raw materials inventory, employees, suppliers, delivery time, production and business activities expectation. The indicator system of non-manufacturing purchasing managers’ survey covers 10 sub-indices such as business activities, new orders, new export orders, existing orders, finished goods inventory, input price, sales price, employees, supplier’s delivery time, and business activities expectation. Sub-indices adopt the diffusion index calculation method, i.e. percentage of positive answers in the number of enterprises plus half of the percentage in the same answers. Due to the lack of synthesis of non-manufacturing integrated PMI index, the international society often used business activity index to reflect the overall changes in non-manufacturing economic development.

 

(2) Calculation Methods of Manufacturing PMI. Manufacturing PMI was calculated according to five diffusion indices (group indices) and their weights. 5 group indices and their weights are determined in accordance with their leading impact on the economy. Specifically, new orders index weighted 30 percent; production index weighted 25 percent; employment index weighted 20 percent; supplier delivery time index weighted 15 percent; raw materials inventory index weighted 10 percent. Of which, the supplier delivery time index is a converse index, and contrary calculation is needed when combines it into PMI.

 

(3) Calculation Methods of Composite PMI Output Index. Composite PMI Output Index was calculated by weighted summation of the manufacturing output index and non-manufacturing business activity index. Their weights are determined by the proportion manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries in GDP.

 

5. Seasonal adjustment

 

The purchasing managers’ survey is a monthly survey, the data of the survey fluctuates very much for the influences of seasonal factors. The released PMI composite index and sub-indices are seasonally adjusted data.