Economic Overview - October PMI data indicates a renewed weakening of economic recovery momentum, with manufacturing PMI dropping to 49.0%, down 0.8 percentage points from the previous month and below the seasonal norm[3] - Non-manufacturing PMI slightly increased to 50.1%, up 0.1 percentage points, primarily driven by holiday consumption and seasonal service industry demand[3] - Overall, the composite PMI fell to 50.0%, a decrease of 0.6 percentage points, reflecting a continued divergence in economic conditions between sectors[3] Manufacturing Sector Insights - Manufacturing PMI at 49.0% indicates a return to low levels for the year, with large enterprises at 49.9%, medium enterprises at 48.7%, and small enterprises at 47.1%, showing increased operational pressure across all sizes[3] - Key sub-indices show production index at 49.7% (down 2.2 percentage points), new orders index at 48.8% (down 0.9 percentage points), and employment index at 48.3% (down 0.2 percentage points), indicating a significant decline in production and demand[3] - Industries such as food processing and automotive show stronger supply and demand, while textiles and chemicals remain below the prosperity line, indicating weak sector performance[3] Non-Manufacturing Sector Insights - Non-manufacturing PMI at 50.1% suggests moderate expansion, with construction PMI at 49.1% and service PMI at 50.2%, indicating a mixed performance across sectors[4] - New orders index for non-manufacturing remains weak at 46.0%, reflecting limited short-term demand recovery potential[4] - Employment index for non-manufacturing at 45.2% indicates ongoing labor market pressures, with business activity expectations index rising to 56.1%, suggesting optimism for future operations[4] Policy and Future Outlook - Short-term economic improvement is expected to require stronger policy support, with a focus on the effectiveness of financial tools and special bond allocations in Q4[3] - The upcoming "14th Five-Year Plan" is anticipated to influence medium to long-term policy direction, making 2026's economic performance critical for future strategies[3] - Risks include potential export weakness, real estate market downturns, and insufficient policy momentum[4]