China's manufacturing PMI increased to 49.8 in September, indicating a slower contraction.

In September, China's manufacturing sector contracted for the fifth consecutive month, though the decline slowed compared to August. The official purchasing managers' index (PMI) increased to 49.8 from 49.1, remaining under the 50 mark that indicates growth. This improvement, despite still signaling contraction, was better than the anticipated 49.5, suggesting a slight recovery in the manufacturing landscape.