Thailand's July Factory Activity Expands at Fastest Since December

Thailand's manufacturing activity improved in July to its highest level since December 2025, with the headline S&P Global Thailand Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) coming in at 54.2, according to data released on Monday.

The latest reading, which provides a gauge of factory sector conditions, compared with the 53.6 recorded in the previous month. It far exceeded the series' long-run average of 50.5.

A reading above 50 indicates an expansion in sector performance compared to the prior month, while a figure below signals a contraction.

The monthly momentum was driven by production levels rising to their highest level so far in 2026.

Federal Reserve Watch for July 31: Fed Officials Explains Dissents, Would Prefer Gradual Rate Increases to Sudden Hikes

Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari (voter) published a note explaining that he dissented from the FOMC's decision to hold its target rate steady because he believes that the Fed has a role to prevent temporary inflation increases from supply shocks from turning into entrenched inflation and that he prefers gradual rate increases to suddenly raising rates when the need arises.Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan (voter) said that she dissented in favor of a rate increase at the FOMC meeting due to elevated inflation, saying that "(m)odest action in the near term would reduce the likelihood of needing to take sharper action later."Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack (voter) said that she dissented due to inflation being "too high for too long" and that the longer it remains elevated, the more difficult and costly it will be for the FOMC to bring it down. She added that high inflation is a larger issue than slow employment growth at the moment.Recent comments of note:(July 29) The FOMC maintained the target range for the federal funds rate at 3.50% to 3.75% and made no major changes to the statement, but three Fed presidents -- Beth Hammack, Neel Kashkari, and Lorie Logan -- dissented in favor of a 25-basis point rate increase. There was no update to the Summary of Economic Projections at the meeting.(July 29) Fed Chair Kevin Warsh (voter) said that the FOMC will continue to act to deliver price stability, with its goal of 2% fully intact. Warsh added that markets have more recently been reacting to incoming data and events in the absence of Fed forward guidance. He also commented that the decision to maintain its target range had little to due to the softer consumer inflation data for June, repeating that the FOMC is focused on trends and not one piece of data.

Daily Roundup of Key US Economic Data for July 31

The employment cost index rose 0.9% in Q2 after a 0.9% gain in the previous quarter, reflecting faster wage growth but slower benefits costs growth.The Chicago PMI rose to 57.6 in July from 56.7 in June, the last regional manufacturing reading for the month. The ISM's national index is due to be released on Aug. 3.The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for July was revised higher to 55.2 from the preliminary estimate of 54.4 and was above June's reading of 49.5, but Michigan said that consumers remain concerned about high prices.Michigan said that inflation expectations were lower in July than in June but were still elevated.The Q3 GDPnow estimate from the New York Fed is a 2.5%, below the 2.6% gain in the previous estimate.

Thailand's July Factory Activity Expands at Fastest Since December

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International2d ago
Federal Reserve Watch for July 31: Fed Officials Explains Dissents, Would Prefer Gradual Rate Increases to Sudden Hikes
Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari (voter) published a note explaining that he dissented from the FOMC's decision to hold its target rate steady because he believes that the Fed has a role to prevent temporary inflation increases from supply shocks from turning into entrenched inflation and that he prefers gradual rate increases to suddenly raising rates when the need arises.Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan (voter) said that she dissented in favor of a rate increase at the FOMC meeting due to elevated inflation, saying that "(m)odest action in the near term would reduce the likelihood of needing to take sharper action later."Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack (voter) said that she dissented due to inflation being "too high for too long" and that the longer it remains elevated, the more difficult and costly it will be for the FOMC to bring it down. She added that high inflation is a larger issue than slow employment growth at the moment.Recent comments of note:(July 29) The FOMC maintained the target range for the federal funds rate at 3.50% to 3.75% and made no major changes to the statement, but three Fed presidents -- Beth Hammack, Neel Kashkari, and Lorie Logan -- dissented in favor of a 25-basis point rate increase. There was no update to the Summary of Economic Projections at the meeting.(July 29) Fed Chair Kevin Warsh (voter) said that the FOMC will continue to act to deliver price stability, with its goal of 2% fully intact. Warsh added that markets have more recently been reacting to incoming data and events in the absence of Fed forward guidance. He also commented that the decision to maintain its target range had little to due to the softer consumer inflation data for June, repeating that the FOMC is focused on trends and not one piece of data.

International2d ago
Daily Roundup of Key US Economic Data for July 31
The employment cost index rose 0.9% in Q2 after a 0.9% gain in the previous quarter, reflecting faster wage growth but slower benefits costs growth.The Chicago PMI rose to 57.6 in July from 56.7 in June, the last regional manufacturing reading for the month. The ISM's national index is due to be released on Aug. 3.The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for July was revised higher to 55.2 from the preliminary estimate of 54.4 and was above June's reading of 49.5, but Michigan said that consumers remain concerned about high prices.Michigan said that inflation expectations were lower in July than in June but were still elevated.The Q3 GDPnow estimate from the New York Fed is a 2.5%, below the 2.6% gain in the previous estimate.

International2d ago
New York Fed US Q3 GDP Nowcast Estimate 2.5% Gain vs Previous 2.6% Gain