# The Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index has improved for a second consecutive month, rising to 49.6 points in October from a revised 48.7 points in September. However, the manufacturing sector remains under pressure, with business activity and new orders still below the 50-point mark. Employment remains weak, while rising fuel costs and a weaker rand have pushed up manufacturers’ purchasing prices. The Bureau for Economic Research says businesses remain cautious because of uncertainty around Wednesday’s local government elections, transport problems and weak consumer demand.
Absa purchasing managers’ index rises for second consecutive month, but manufacturing remains under pressure