DHAKA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The December reading of Bangladesh's overall Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose by 0.2 points from the previous month to 54.2, indicating a slightly faster pace of expansion.
According to a report, this improvement was driven by continued growth in the agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors.
A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion, while one below 50 signals contraction.
The PMI covers more than 500 private sector firms across agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and services.
The latest PMI readings indicate a marginal expansion of the economy, driven by strong agricultural sector performance. The manufacturing sector experienced its second straight month of slowdown, while the construction sector reverted to contraction.
The future business index remained in expansion across all key sectors of the economy. ■