TOKYO—Japan’s manufacturing activity grew at a slower pace from the previous month in April as supply chain disruptions and strict Chinese coronavirus lockdown measures hurt overseas demand.
Activity in the sector was held up by resilience in output, overall orders, and optimism about the year ahead, even as producers grew more wary of persisting price pressures, the Ukraine war, logistics logjams, and the global economic outlook.
The final au Jibun Bank Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to a seasonally adjusted 53.5 in April from the prior month’s 54.1 final.
That was largely in line with a 53.4 flash reading. The 50-mark separates contraction from expansion.
…