Colombia: Manufacturing PMI edges up in September
Business conditions in Colombia’s manufacturing sector continued to improve in September. The seasonally-adjusted Davivienda manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index inched up from 50.3 in August to 50.9 in September, thus marking the third consecutive month that the index remains above the critical 50-threshold separating expansion from contraction.
Renewed increase in new orders, coupled with a stronger upturn in output, drove the index higher in September. Firms reported a pick-up in demand amid successful marketing efforts, although the upturn in sales was only slight. Meanwhile, the pace of job creation reached its fastest pace in one year as manufacturers scrambled to fulfil outstanding business. On the price front, a weaker peso led to higher input cost inflation, which led to manufacturers to increase output prices. Meanwhile, the one-year business outlook rose further into positive territory in September.