Qatar: Non-energy PMI rises to seven-month high in April
The Qatar Financial Centre non-energy Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 52.0 in April from 50.6 in March. As a result, the index moved further above the 50.0 no-change threshold, and signaled a faster improvement in private-sector non-energy operating conditions compared to the previous month.
April’s PMI increase was driven by the fastest growth in output and new orders since the previous September, underpinned by new customer acquisitions and the competitive quality of products. This surge in demand was evident across all sectors, notably in services. The non-energy private sector’s optimism for growth over the next twelve months also improved, buoyed by effective marketing campaigns, business development plans, and efficiency drives. Additionally, the employment rate grew sharply due to the stronger inflow of new work and heightened business confidence, with purchasing activity seeing its fastest increase in ten months.
Meanwhile, price pressures in April slightly declined, with both input and output prices experiencing marginal falls. This reduction in price pressures suggests a slight easing in the cost burden for companies within the non-energy sector.