![China Jan manufacturing activity unexpectedly contracts, hits five-month low China Jan manufacturing activity unexpectedly contracts, hits five-month low](https://news.charm-retirement.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ba0e36a430751d4ae4bbcea3f41e1df7-600x400.jpeg)
China Jan manufacturing activity unexpectedly contracts, hits five-month low
By Liz Lee and Joe Cash BEIJING (Reuters) -China’s manufacturing activity unexpectedly contracted in January, an official factory survey showed on Monday, its weakest since August, keeping alive calls for stimulus in the world’s second-largest economy. The official purchasing managers’ index (PMI) contracted to 49.1 in January from 50.1 in December, below the 50-mark separating…