BEIJING — A recovery in China’s manufacturing activity has buoyed the economy while also creating frictions with the West, as companies flood overseas markets with cheap goods amid anemic domestic demand.
China’s purchasing managers’ index came to 50.4 in April, falling 0.4 point from March but topping the 50-point mark separating growth from contraction for the second month in a row. The index tracks manufacturing activity across 3,200 companies, based on new orders, production levels, employee numbers and other indicators.