BEIJING: China's factory activity unexpectedly slipped into contraction in July, pressured by shrinking new orders that reinforced concerns over slowing economic growth, weak demand at home and elevated production costs.The official manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 49.2 from 50.3 in

The official composite PMI falls to its lowest since late 2022

China's factory activity unexpectedly contracted in July, as the export rush that powered a second-quarter rebound began to unwind.