According to the flash estimate, the headline manufacturing PMI dropped from 51.6 in February to 50.4 in March, the second straight decline. (Data released on Tuesday.) The result was below expectations.
Capital Economics notes as follows ....
- Admittedly, the output component remained rather strong despite a fall from 53.5 to 52.0. Nonetheless, it suggests that the recent surge in industrial production is unlikely to continue.