India’s factory activity expanded at its slowest pace in eight months in April as growth in new orders and output dipped as national elections got under way, a private business survey found. Optimism among manufacturing firms also ebbed in April as they remain concerned about what policies the new government will adopt when it takes office by end-May. The Nikkei Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, compiled by IHS Markit, fell to 51.8 last month from March’s 52.6. It has stayed above the 50-mark separating expansion from contraction for nearly two years. “When looking at reasons provided by surveyed companies for the (April) slowdown, disruptions arising from the elections was a key theme,” noted Pollyanna De Lima, principal economist at IHS Markit, in a release. “Also, firms seem to have adopted a wait-and-see approach on their plans until public policies become clearer upon the formation of a government.” Voting in India’s multi-stage election began on April 11 and will end on May 19. Votes will be counted on May 23.
