China’s Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) returned to expansionary territory in March 2026, rising to 50.5 after registering 49.5 in February 2026.
The move above the 50-point threshold — which separates contraction from expansion — suggests that overall business activity in China improved over the month, after a mild slowdown in February. The composite reading reflects conditions across both manufacturing and services, indicating a broad-based uptick in economic momentum.
The updated data, released on 31 March 2026, will be closely watched by investors and policymakers as a potential sign that domestic demand and business sentiment are stabilising following earlier softness in the first quarter.