The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector registered at 49 in October, down 0.8 percentage points from the previous month, according to the data jointly released by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) on Friday.
The drop in PMI was caused by seasonal factors, but the new growth drivers and the consumer goods manufacturing maintained steady growth and there are also positive changes in market prices.
"Affected by the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday as well as the external factors, the PMI registered a short seasonal drop, but there were still continuous improvements in the economic structure," said He Hui, vice president of the CFLP.
The PMIs of the equipment manufacturing, high-tech manufacturing, and consumer goods manufacturing all remained in the expansion zone, with the production index and the new order index being at around 51.
"Three key industries continue to expand with their supportive role becoming increasingly evident. The Production and Operation Expectation Index remained in the expansion zone, demonstrating that most manufacturing enterprises are generally optimistic about the market development," said Huo Lihui, director of the business climate survey division under the service survey center of NBS.
In October, the producer price index (PPI) for the equipment manufacturing hit record high since June 2024 and the PPI for high-tech manufacturing reached the highest level this year.
China's manufacturing PMI at 49 in October
China's manufacturing PMI at 49 in October
Chinese speed skater Ning Zhongyan has made Asian history at the Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games after a long and solitary journey of rebirth following earlier setbacks.
Ning clocked an Olympic record of one minute 41.98 seconds to win the men's 1,500m speed skating event at the Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games on Thursday. This triumph follows two previous bronze medals he won in the men's 1,000m and team pursuit.
The men's 1,500 meters is often called the "King's Race" of long-track speed skating, demanding a rare blend of explosive speed and sustained endurance. The event has long been dominated by European and North American skaters. Since the first Winter Olympics in 1924, no Asian athlete had ever won gold in the event until now.
The journey to the throne was not plain sailing for Ning. The joyful tears shed on the Olympic ice at Milano Speed Skating Stadium carried the weight of four hard years.
At the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Ning competed in three events - the 1,000m, 1,500m and mass start - but failed to reach the podium in any of them. In his most practiced discipline, the 1500-meter race, he ranked seventh.
Regrets lingered for a long time. But as a professional athlete, Ning had to adjust his mindset and accept the setback.
"After thinking over it, I was able to face it and realize that there's no need to burden myself with such pressure anymore. After all, it's already in the past. I can't change that reality, so I just chose to accept it," said Ning in an interview with China Media Group in Milan.
In 2023, Ning started to train with Dutch coach Johan De Wit. The move reshaped his career and his mindset.
"When it comes to training abroad, the first thing you face is loneliness. You need to confront this sense of isolation on your own, for only then can you discover a way of life that truly belongs to you. The changes have been indeed very significant, as some training philosophies were entirely new to me," said Ning.
The transformation soon became evident. During the 2023–2024 season, he not only clinched titles in both the men's 1,000m and 1,500m at the ISU World Cup, but also became the first Chinese male World Sprint Champion in speed skating history.
"[At the World Cup 1500m event,] my opponent was the Olympic champion [Kjeld] Nuis, and I defeated him at the 'Ice Ribbon' (China's National Speed Skating Oval), where he won the Olympic championship in 2022. This victory made me accept my past defeat, and also gave me firmer confidence in myself," said Ning.
Having fulfilled his long-held dream of raising the Chinese national flag on the Olympic podium, the newly crowned "King of Speed Skating" said he is grateful for the setbacks four years ago, which made him stronger, and that he never regretted his choices or the hardships he endured along the way.
Reborn from setbacks, Chinese speed skater makes Asian history at Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
