WELLINGTON, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Manufacturing activity in New Zealand rose in July but while there was some improvement the numbers still tell a story of a sector continuing to struggle.

The Bank of New Zealand-Business NZ's seasonally adjusted Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) rose to 44 in July from 41.2 in the previous month.

A reading above 50 indicates an expansion in activity, while anything below that threshold indicates a contraction.

BNZ’s senior economist Doug Steel said in a note that perhaps the best thing to be said about July’s Performance of Manufacturing Index is that it was less bad than June’s result.

The data “speak to a manufacturing sector firmly in reverse and under significant duress,” he said.

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https://www.reuters.com/markets/new-zealands-manufacturing-sector-continues-struggle-survey-2024-08-15/