Media release

Absa Purchasing Managers' Index April 2023

1 May 2023

The seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 49.8 index points in April 2023 from 48.1 in March. Despite the improvement, the index failed to edge back above the neutral 50-point mark as business activity and new sales orders worsened relative to March.

Indeed, the headline PMI would have deteriorated further if not for a significant improvement in the inventories index. The underlying survey results suggest that the sector experienced another tough month at the start of the second quarter amid intense load-shedding hurting output, and demand remaining under pressure.

1 May 2023

The seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 49.8 index points in April 2023 from 48.1 in March. Despite the improvement, the index failed to edge back above the neutral 50-point mark as business activity and new sales orders worsened relative to March.

Indeed, the headline PMI would have deteriorated further if not for a significant improvement in the inventories index. The underlying survey results suggest that the sector experienced another tough month at the start of the second quarter amid intense load-shedding hurting output, and demand remaining under pressure.