Latest sign of economic strain comes after rare mass protests against Beijing’s ‘zero-COVID’ policies. The index – where the 50-point mark separates growth from contraction – is at its lowest in seven months. The non-manufacturing PMI, which covers the service sector, fell to 46.7 down from 48.7 in October. China has stuck to its ultra-strict “zero-Covid” strategy of lockdowns, mass testing and border controls despite mounting economic and social costs. The areas of the country currently under lockdown account for more than one-quarter of gross domestic product, more than at the height of the Shanghai lockdown in April, according to a report from Nomura. . . .
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