Australian manufacturing activity declines at slower pace in Oct.

Australia's manufacturing activity continued to decline at a slower pace in October, a monthly manufacturing survey released on Tuesday showed. The Australian Industry Group/PriceWaterhouseCoopers Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) rose 5.1 points in October to 47.4, the survey said. Readings below 50 indicate contraction in activity. The survey showed the decline in manufacturing activity was particularly obvious in the clothing and footwear sector. In addition, sectors linked to the construction industry, such as wood products and furniture, fabricated metals and construction material continued to show substantial weakness. Eight of the 12 manufacturing sub-sectors posted declines in activity in October. Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Chief Executive Heather Ridout said she did not see manufacturing activity rising soon. "While it is encouraging that the pace of the decline in manufacturing activity eased in October, the sector remained in negative territory," she said in a statement accompanying the survey's release. "New orders remained soft suggesting that there are no real signs of a substantial, near-term pick up in the sector."