Economic recovery is patchy: Recent data should be interpreted cautiously

The virus remains the biggest risk to economic recovery and govt should continue its efforts to improve business environ

All economic indicators are being keenly tracked by the government and the private sector to trace signs of a durable economic recovery in what is perhaps the most difficult and uncertain year in recent history. The latest reading of some of the economic indicators has raised hopes. The purchasing managers’ index for manufacturing, for instance, expanded at the fastest pace in over eight years in September. Goods and services tax (GST) collection went up by 4 per cent over the same period last year; exports also went up by 5.3 per cent during the month, and other indicators such as