(RTTNews) - The manufacturing sector in Malaysia continued to contract in September, and at a faster rate, the latest survey from S&P Global revealed on Tuesday with a manufacturing PMI score of 49.5.
That's down from 49.7 in August and it moves further beneath the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.
Production levels were subdued in the latest survey month, with the respective seasonally adjusted index remaining below the neutral 50.0 mark. Output has now been scaled back for four months in succession, with the latest moderation the most pronounced since March.
According to survey panelists, muted new order inflows were a key factor behind the decrease, although some firms commented on a subdued domestic economy. Total new orders were scaled back for the third month in a row during September, though the rate of reduction eased to one that was only fractional.
