Mumbai, April 23 -- Japan's private sector continued to expand in April, but growth slowed to its weakest pace in four months. The S&P Global Flash PMI(R) Composite Output Index fell from 53.0 in March to 52.4 in April, remaining above the 50.0 mark that indicates expansion. This extends the current growth streak to 13 months, though the pace is the slowest seen in 2026 so far.
The moderation was driven by the services sector, where activity grew at its slowest rate in 11 months. In contrast, manufacturing output rose strongly, recording its fastest increase since February 2014. Some firms increased production due to concerns over future supply disruptions linked to the war in the Middle East.
New business rose modestly, with manufacturin...