Manufacturing activity falls again

ACTIVITY in the manufacturing sector fell for the third month in a row in August although employment increased slightly.

The seasonally adjusted NCB Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) — a measure of the health of the manufacturing industry — posted 49.7 in August, to signal a third successive fall in operating conditions.

However, the decline was only marginal and weaker than the deterioration signalled in July of 48.2.