China’s Factory PMI Shrinks for Sixth Straight Month — Demand Weakness Persists

BEIJING — China’s manufacturing PMI came in at 49.8 in September, marking a sixth consecutive month below the 50 mark despite edging up from 49.4 in August. The non-manufacturing PMI also slipped to 50.0, highlighting slowing momentum across sectors.

The downturn reflects weak domestic demand and ongoing U.S. trade tensions. While Beijing has rolled out consumer loan subsidies, markets remain skeptical about whether stimulus is sufficient to revive growth.

Analysts warn that without stronger policy support, China’s slowdown could ripple through global supply chains — weighing on key partners in Asia and Europe.