Global Manufacturing Activity Contracts for First Time This Year

Global manufacturing activity contracted for the first time this year in April, dragged down by shrinking orders and employment.

The JPMorgan Global Manufacturing Index decreased to 49.8 from 50.3 a month earlier as uncertainty around US trade and tariff policies weighed on demand and business expectations. Figures below 50 indicate contraction.

The future output index fell to the lowest level since October 2022 and has slid 4.5 points since President Donald Trump was elected in November.

A gauge of factory output prices edged up to the highest since March 2023, according to the report. Input prices held steady in April ...