The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing PMI was confirmed at 53.3 in October 2026, matching preliminary estimates, but declining from 54.1 in September. It was the softest expansion in the manufacturing sector since March, as firms recorded slower increases in output and new orders, with both growing at their weakest rates in seven months. Employment continued to increase, with the pace of job creation remaining among the fastest seen over the past decade. Purchasing activity increased at the weakest pace in six months. Meanwhile, suppliers’ delivery times lengthened substantially. On the price front, input cost inflation accelerated for the first time in five months, while output costs continued to rise, though inflation eased to a six-month low. Looking ahead, business sentiment remained positive, ticking up slightly.