China’s factory activity shrunk in September for the first time since February 2020, following sweeping curbs on electricity usage, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Data show the official manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) in September was at 49.6, down from 50.1 in August. The economic indicator fell below score 50 for the first time in the past 19 months, which equals a decline in sector activity. The 50-mark separates growth from contraction on a monthly basis. “The manufacturing PMI fell below the critical point due to the low sentiment of high energy-consuming industries,” senior NBS statistician Zhao Qinghe said. Thursday data indicate production dropped in September as the purchase price index of major raw materials was 63.5 percent, 2.2 percentage points higher than the previous month. It has risen to highs in the past four months. Raw prices of petroleum, coal and other fuel processing, chemical raw materials …