epa12861128 An elderly man wearing a face mask walks in a shopping mall in Beijing, China, 31 March 2026. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) increased to 50.4 in March 2026 from last month's 49.0, coming in above expectations of 50.1, marks the strongest reading since March in 2025 and a rebound after two months of contraction. EPA/WU HAO