China's factory activity remained in contraction for the eighth straight month in November. New orders were sluggish in the month, even as the US cut some tariffs on Chinese imports.
The National Bureau of Statistics says the manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index stood at 49.2. That's up 0.2 points from October, but is still below the 50-point threshold separating growth from contraction.
The bureau survey covered 3,200 manufacturers. The gauges for large, mid-sized and small companies all remained below the 50 mark.
The index for non-manufacturers, which includes service providers, also pointed to sluggish economic conditions. It fell 0.6 points to 49.5. That is the first time the index has slid below 50 since December 2022, when China's economy was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Quiz 1:
What was the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index in China for November 2025?
A. 48.7
B. 49.2
C. 50.3
D. 51.5

Quiz 2:
Was the US tariff cut on Chinese imports in November 2025 associated with an increase in new orders in China?
A. Yes, there was a significant increase in new orders.
B. Yes, there was a slight increase in new orders.
C. New orders were sluggish despite the tariff cut.
D. There was no tariff cut on Chinese imports in November 2025.

Quiz 3:
Was the index for non-manufacturers (service providers) in China below the 50 mark in November 2025?
A. Yes, it was below 50.
B. No, it was above 50.
C. It remained at exactly 50.
D. The index for non-manufacturers was not provided in the article.

[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 1: B
Quiz 2: C
Quiz 3: A