The S&P Global Egypt PMI fell to 47.2 in September 2026 from 49.6 in August, indicating a renewed and faster deterioration in non-oil private sector conditions. Both output and new orders declined sharply, as weaker demand, geopolitical disruptions, and persistent inflationary pressures weighed on business activity.
Despite this, employment rose for a second consecutive month, marking the first back-to-back increase in payrolls in over a year. In contrast, purchasing activity contracted for the sixth month in a row, and inventories declined for the third consecutive month as firms cut back on input purchases.
Cost pressures remained high, driven by increased prices for oil, metals, electricity, and transportation. In response, companies raised their selling prices significantly, even though output price inflation eased slightly. Business confidence stayed in positive territory but weakened from August’s more than four-year high, amid mounting concerns about softer demand and persistent geopolitical disruptions.