Business conditions continued to deteriorate across Lebanon’s private sector economy at the start of the second quarter, as highlighted by the headline BLOM Lebanon PMI registering a reading of 47.5 in April, below the 50.0 mark that separates growth from contraction. That said, the index increased from March’s four-month low of 46.9 to signal a slight slowdown in the rate of decline.
Commenting on the April 2017 PMI results, Marwan Mikhael, Head of Research at BLOMINVEST Bank, said:
“Uncertainties surrounding the endorsement of a new electoral law have restrained demand during the month of April, especially after missing another critical deadline for the third time since 2013. This was translated into a further, albeit slower, decline in the business conditions of the private sector economy. On the brighter side, the decrease in output in April was the second-slowest seen since the start of 2016. For the period to come, the turn of events by mid-May, date of the new electoral law deadline, will shape future political developments and their impact on private sector activity.”
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