China's logistics sector sees improved performance in March

China's logistics sector showed a notable improvement in business activities in March of this year, according to data released by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing on Wednesday.

The index tracking the country's logistics market was 50.2 percent in March, up 2.7 percentage points from the previous month while returning to the expansion zone, data from the federation showed.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction.

In March, sub-indices trended upward, with indices for total business volume, new orders, inventory turnover, capital turnover, equipment utilization, employment and business activity expectation all registering strong recoveries.

The business volume indices across major sectors all improved month on month, with the index for railway transportation reaching 54.4 percent, a month-on-month increase of 0.3 percentage points.

Air logistics, postal and express delivery, and road transportation all showed strong rebounds, with their business volume indices climbing 3.7, 2.5, and 3.1 percentage points, respectively, compared to the previous month.

Labor demand at companies rose as well, with the employment index standing at 49.7 percent, up 1.4 percentage points from the previous month. Among them, the employment index in the central and western regions exceeded the 50 percent mark.

"In this March, the prosperity index of logistics industry returned to expansionary territory, with key indicators showing a significant rebound. Logistics companies have strengthened their service capabilities in digitalization and supply chain integration, helping to lift the sector's overall performance in the first quarter," said Liu Yuhang, director of the China Logistics Information Center.

Investment in the logistics sector continued to recover steadily in March, with the fixed asset investment completion index reaching 51.4 percent, up 0.8 percentage points month on month. The business activity expectation index climbed to 54.2 percent, up 3.2 percentage points month on month, indicating that businesses remained optimistic about their future development.

Fewer U.S. residents are confident in President Donald Trump's decision-making on Iran compared with that in last year, a Pew Research Center poll showed.

Conducted in late March among over 3,500 U.S. adults, the survey showed only 35 percent of U.S. adults are very or somewhat confident in Trump's ability to make good decisions about U.S. policy toward Iran, down by 9 points since August 2025.

The survey also found that higher gas prices triggered by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran have emerged as the top concern of U.S. residents. The majorities of U.S. residents are also worrying about the possibility of U.S. sending ground troops into Iran, potential military casualties, and terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.