The manufacturing sector in Japan continued to contract in August, although at a slower rate, the latest survey from Jibun Bank revealed on Thursday with a manufacturing PMI score of 49.9.
That's up from 48.9 in July, although it remains just barely beneath the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.
The survey also showed that the services PMI slipped to 52.7 in August from 53.6 in July. Also, the composite index ticked up to 51.9 from 51.6 a month earlier.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.