South Africa’s private sector activity expanded for the first time in several months, with the S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising to 50.5 in June from 49.6 in May.
The reading crossed the critical 50.0 threshold, marking a return to growth after a period of contraction.
This turnaround suggests improving business conditions and potentially stronger demand dynamics in the region’s largest economy.
In contrast, private sector activity in the euro zone contracted for a third straight month in June, although the pace of decline moderated compared to previous readings.
The latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data reveals a mix of resilience and weakness across the bloc, with some sectors showing signs of stabilization despite the overall negative trend.
The divergence highlights differing economic cycles between emerging markets in Africa and the developed economies of Europe.