【新华解读】7月份中国制造业PMI缘何回落？

Core Viewpoint - Despite a decline in China's manufacturing PMI in July, the overall economic output remains in the expansion zone, supported by non-manufacturing indices above 50% [1][2]. Manufacturing PMI Analysis - The manufacturing PMI for July is reported at 49.3%, a decrease of 0.4 percentage points from the previous month, marking the first decline in four months [1][2]. - The non-manufacturing business activity index and the composite PMI output index are at 50.1% and 50.2%, respectively, both still indicating expansion despite slight declines [1]. - The decline in manufacturing PMI is attributed to seasonal factors, including the traditional off-peak season during the flood season and high temperatures [1][2]. Demand and Supply Dynamics - In July, the new orders index for manufacturing fell into the contraction zone, primarily due to short-term factors such as extreme weather conditions [3]. - The new export orders index decreased by 0.6 percentage points to 47.1%, reflecting weakened overall demand due to various factors including previous over-exporting and tariff uncertainties [3]. - Despite weak demand, the production index remains in the expansion zone, indicating resilience in manufacturing activity [3]. Price Trends - The purchasing price index and the factory price index increased to 51.5% and 48.3%, respectively, with the purchasing price index rising above the critical point for the first time since March [3]. - The recent "anti-involution" policies are believed to have positively influenced price recovery, although they may cause temporary production slowdowns [4]. Sector Performance - The equipment manufacturing PMI and high-tech manufacturing PMI, while showing a decline, remain in the expansion zone, indicating ongoing structural optimization and high-quality development [4]. - Large enterprises reported a PMI of 50.3%, while medium-sized enterprises improved to 49.5%, and small enterprises saw a decline to 46.4% [5]. Business Expectations - The production and business activity expectation index rose to 52.6%, suggesting increased confidence among manufacturing enterprises despite overall PMI weakness [5]. - The "anti-involution" actions are expected to positively impact business expectations, although the sustainability of these effects depends on demand recovery [5]. Economic Outlook - The central government emphasizes the need for stable and flexible policies to support economic growth, aiming for a 5.0% growth target for the year [6].