China’s factory activity falls for first time in five months

Official data indicates that China's factory activity unexpectedly slipped into contraction during July, marking the first decline in five months. The official survey highlights this slowdown in industrial output. Furthermore, the reports show a sharp decline in non-manufacturing activity throughout the same period. These figures confirm a broader downturn in both the manufacturing and service sectors, reflecting a significant shift in the economic momentum previously observed over the preceding five months in China.