China CFLP Oct. Mfg PMI Slides to 51.6, Below Expected

     BEIJING (MNI) - China's official purchasing managers' index for

manufacturing, jointly released by the China Federation of Logistics and

Purchasing (CFLP) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), fell to 51.6 in

October from 52.4 in September, the agencies announced Tuesday. 

     The October index fell more than expected, with the MNI survey median

forecast calling for a decline to 52.0.

     The reading means that activity in the Chinese manufacturing sector

continued to rise, but at a slower pace than the month before.  

     The October reading was the first decline in three months. It was also the

15th consecutive month that the reading has been above 50, the break-even mark. 

     All five of the major subindexes saw weaker sentiment in October. 

          --Manufacturing new orders index fell to 52.9 from 54.8 in September 

          --Manufacturing output index fell to 53.4 from 54.7 in September

          --Input price index fell to 63.4 from 68.4 in September

          --Business expectations index fell to 57.0 from 59.4 in September

          --New export orders fell to 50.1 from 51.3 in September

     The official services PMI also fell, to 54.3 in October from 55.4 in

September, the NBS said. 

--MNI BEIJING Bureau; +1 202-371-2121; email: john.carter@mni-news.com

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