China's factory activity contracts for second month in November

This photo taken on August 31, 2023 shows a worker assembling an engine at an engine manufacturing factory in Qingzhou, in China's eastern Shandong Province. (Photo by AFP)

BEIJING: China's manufacturing activity contracted for a second straight month in November and at a quicker pace, an official factory survey showed on Thursday, suggesting more government policy support measures are needed to help shore up economic growth.

The official purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 49.4 in November from 49.5 in October, staying below the 50-point level demarcating contraction from expansion. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a reading of 49.7.