Tribune News NetworkDohaThe latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey data from Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) signalled a second successive record improvement in operating conditions in the non-energy economy to conclude the second quarter of 2022. Output growth quickened to a fresh series high, while new orders, quantity of purchases and backlogs rose at near-record rates. Strong demand continued to support job creation, but also led firms to raise their stockpiles. Turning to prices, overall input costs rose only moderately in June, while selling price inflation quickened to a six-month high amid robust demand conditions. The Qatar PMI indices are compiled from survey responses from a panel of around 450 private sector companies. The panel covers the manufacturing, construction, wholesale, retail, and services sectors, and reflects the structure of the non-energy economy according to official national accounts data. The headline Qatar Financial Centre PMI is a composite single-figure indicator of non-energy private sector performance. It is derived from indicators for new orders, output, employment, suppliers’ delivery times and stocks of purchases. The PMI was unchanged at 67.5 in June, thereby signalling a second successive record in overall business conditions in Qatar’s non-oil sector.The latest reading of the PMI was driven by new orders and output components, which together have a weight of 55% in the headline figure. Output growth quickened to a new series high while new business rose substantially, but at a slightly softer pace to that seen in May. Firms linked growth to healthy trading conditions and also cited that strong demand stemming from the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Subsequently, Qatari non-energy companies remained confident that output would continue to expand over the next 12 months. Sentiment was the strongest for four months with Wholesale & Retail firms particularly optimistic. Greater output and sustained new order growth supported another rise in headcounts in June. The rate of growth was softer than that in May, but still solid overall and the fourth-strongest in the survey history. Backlogs meanwhile rose substantially, suggesting capacity pressures continued. Purchasing activity rose in June, with buying activity now observed over the last two years. The volume of inputs rose at the second-fastest rate on record, surpassed only by that seen in May. Stocked inputs meanwhile rose moderately and at a quicker pace than in May. Average purchase prices rose only mildly in June. Despite this, selling prices levied by Qatari non-energy firms rose at the quickest pace for four months. Robust demand allowed firms to hike their fees at the fourth-strongest rate in the survey’s five-year history.
