The manufacturing sector just can't catch a break - we're now looking at nine consecutive months of contraction according to the latest index reading.

Ninth month in a row. That's not a blip anymore, that's a trend. The index data keeps painting the same picture: production activity staying in decline territory, and there's no quick turnaround in sight.

For anyone tracking macro conditions, this matters. Manufacturing weakness typically signals broader economic headwinds, which inevitably spills over into risk assets. When factory output stumbles for this long, it raises questions about demand, employment, and where central banks might pivot next.

The numbers don't lie - industrial activity remains under pressure, and markets are watching closely to see if this downturn deepens or finally stabilizes.