Activity in the Indonesian manufacturing sector increased for the third successive month in April, and at a faster rate than in the previous month, data from a survey by Markit Economics and HSBC Bank showed Wednesday.
The seasonally adjusted purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector increased to a six-month high of 51.7 in April from 51.3 in March. The index stayed above the no-change 50 mark - which separates growth from contraction - for the third successive month.
New orders received by Indonesian manufacturers increased for the eleventh consecutive month in April, but at a slower rate than in March. Reflecting the improvement in new business, production increased further during the month, though at a modest rate.
Manufacturing firms increased their workforces for the first time since October 2012, but the overall pace of job creation was only fractional.
Input prices paid by goods producers increased notably in April, but at the slowest pace in four months. Consequently, output prices rose at a faster rate, extending the trend seen since the series began.
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