Global financial activity rebounds in April
Markit's global sector PMITM data signalled renewed growth in the financial sector in April, following a weak spell in February and March. Solid increases in activity were registered in banks, real estate and insurance, which were ranked second, fourth and sixth in the global sector league table respectively. That said, other financial services posted a further drop in activity and was among the bottom-ranked sectors.
Global Sector PMI: broad sectors
Global Sector PMI: detailed sectors
Beverages was the fastest-growing sector in April, with the strongest rise in output in 2016 so far. In contrast, food registered a marked slowdown in growth, dropping eight places in the table from joint-top spot in March.
There was mixed news for other consumer goods-related sectors, with automobiles & auto parts showing solid growth - in third place overall - but household & personal use products registering only a fractional rise in output.
Metals & mining registered a stable trend in output in the latest period, and new orders in the sector rose at the strongest rate since June 2014.
Global Metals & Mining: New Orders
Healthcare services registered the fastest decline in activity of all sectors monitored in April, in a reversal from March when it was joint-top of the growth table.
Trevor Balchin | Economics Director, IHS Markit
Tel: +44 149 1461065
trevor.balchin@ihsmarkit.com