China Factory Activity Less   11/30 07:27

   

   HONG KONG (AP) -- An official survey of Chinese manufacturers shows that 
factory activity contracted for a second straight month in November, an 
indicator of weak demand despite various stimulus measures aimed at supporting 
the economy.

   The official manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell to 49.4 in 
November, down slightly from October's 49.5, according to data released 
Thursday by the National Bureau of Statistics.

   A figure below 50 indicates a contraction in manufacturing activity while a 
number above 50 reflects an expansion, on a scale up to 100.

   The index has fallen in seven of the past eight months, with an increase 
only in September. Despite prolonged weakness after the pandemic, the economy 
is expected to grow at about a 5% annual pace this year.

   The new orders sub-index contracted for a second consecutive month, while 
two other sub-indices for raw material inventory and employment also were lower.

   China's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has faltered after an initial 
burst of growth earlier in the year faded more quickly than expected. Despite 
prolonged weakness in consumer spending and exports, the economy is expected to 
grow at about a 5% annual pace this year.

   Capital Economics' Sheana Yue and Julian Evans-Pritchard wrote in a note 
that the latest surveys may be "overstating the extent of slowdown due to 
sentiment effects."

   "That turned out to be the case in October, with the hard data not quite as 
weak as the PMIs had suggested," they wrote.

   In recent months, the government has raised spending on construction of 
ports and other infrastructure, cut interest rates and eased curbs on 
home-buying.

   China's policy advisors have called for still stronger stimulus measures to 
revive the economy.