The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector maintained steady and optimized growth in November, with key areas such as new growth drivers and consumer goods showing steady and rapid expansion.
The PMI for China's manufacturing sector came in at 50.3 in November, up from 50.1 in October, according to data jointly released by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Saturday.
A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction.
In November, the PMI for equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing stood at 51.3 percent and 51.2 percent, respectively.
In the realm of consumer goods manufacturing, as the new year approaches, the market for New Year's products is heating up. This has led to a rebound in consumer goods manufacturing, with the purchasing manager index returning to the expansion range. Additionally, both the production index and the new order index have exceeded 52 percent, reflecting an accelerated recovery.
"Overall, the recovery of the industry is widespread. Furthermore, alongside this general recovery, the optimization of the industrial structure is quite evident," said Cai Jin, vice chairman of the CFLP.
From the perspective of enterprise types, large enterprises continue to grow steadily, with their PMI remaining in the expansion range, providing significant support for the economy. Additionally, the recent strengthening of policies aimed at alleviating challenges for businesses has led to improved operations for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Notably, medium-sized enterprises have returned to the expansion threshold after remaining below 50 percent for six consecutive months, with an uptick in market demand and accelerated production activities. Small enterprises also experienced a strong rebound, with the production index rising by 3.9 percentage points from the previous month to exceed 51 percent.
"How can we help enterprises overcome difficulties? I believe it is crucial to implement several measures in this regard. In the short term, we need to address the issue of insufficient demand," said Zhang Yansheng, a research fellow of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research.
China sees rising new economic drivers in manufacturing sector in November
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
