COVID outbreaks shrink China factory activity in July

China’s factory activity unexpectedly contracted in July, reversing earlier economic momentum as sporadic COVID outbreaks weigh on the recovery.

The official manufacturing purchasing managers index fell to 49 from 50.2 in June, the National Bureau of Statistics said Sunday. Economists had expected a reading of 50.3, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion from the previous month, while anything below indicates contraction.

The non-manufacturing gauge, which measures activity in the construction and services sectors, decreased to 53.8 from 54.7 the previous month. That was below the consensus forecast of 53.9.

China’s economic recovery has been fragile as the government relaxes curbs with easing outbreaks, but then tightens them again wherever the virus pops back up. A flare-up in the southern manufacturing hub of Shenzhen impacted factory operations there, raising concerns about disruptions to global supply chains.

China’s economy in the second quarter grew at the slowest pace since the initial Wuhan outbreak, and economists expect full-year growth could reach just 4 per cent or below as COVID outbreaks and restrictions and an ongoing slump in the property market continue to weigh on activity.

Bloomberg