China's private manufacturing sector grows for 2nd month: PMI
China's private manufacturing sector grew a bit for the second month in a row—PMI hit 50.3 in January, just over the "expansion" line.
This was helped by more orders and exports to Southeast Asia, even as official government data showed contraction.
Companies start hiring again
Factories are pumping out more products and getting steady new orders for several months, especially from Southeast Asia.
For the first time in three months, companies started hiring again—so there's some hope for jobs and future growth.
Plus, backlogs eased.
Input costs jump, confidence drops
But it's not all good news: input costs jumped at their fastest pace in four months, pushing prices up and making business owners nervous.
Confidence has dropped to a nine-month low as worries about rising expenses grow.
Official stats paint a gloomier picture too—government PMI is down to 49.3, showing weak demand at home even though big firms are holding steady while smaller ones struggle.
This keeps things short, clear, and focused on what matters most for anyone curious about China's economy right now!