China manufacturing indicator weakens
BEIJING - An indicator of Chinese manufacturing activity has decline in a sign of challenges facing communist leaders who have promised sweeping reforms in the slowing economy.
An industry group, the China
Federation of Logistics & Purchasing, said Wednesday that its purchasing
managers index for December declined to 51 from the previous month's 51.4. The
measure is a 100-point scale on which numbers above 50 indicate increasing
activity.
"There still is downward pressure
on economic growth," said economist Zhang Lijun in a statement that
accompanied the report.
A Communist Party plan issued in
November promised to revitalize the economy by injecting more competition into
industries dominated by state-owned companies. This week, the ruling party
announced the formation of a body led by President Xi Jinping to oversee
regulatory changes.