HANOI, March 1 (Reuters) - Data from the Nikkei Vietnam Purchasing Managers' Index forFebruary.Readings above 50.0 indicate an improvement in businessconditions and readings below 50.0 indicate a deterioration.
DATAFEBJANDECNOV53.5 53.4 52.5 51.4
CONTEXT* Vietnam's PMI rose to 53.5 in February, the highest sinceApril 2017, with new orders posting solid increase backed byimproved demand. Business conditions have strengthenedcontinuously every month since December 2015.* Backlogs of work were reduced for a fourth straight month,and at the sharpest pace in 20 months despite further growth ofnew orders and new export orders.* Selling prices rose for the sixth straight month, asincreases in raw material prices pushed input costs up for afurther steep rise, with the rate of inflation only slightlyslower than January's 81-month high.* An index of Vietnamese manufacturers' sentiment dipped tothe lowest level since June despite extended optimism thatoutput will increase over the coming year in line with companyplans. (Reporting by Mai Nguyen; Editing by Richard Borsuk)
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