Spain Manufacturing PMI Returns to Growth at 51.0 in September

Spain's manufacturing sector returned to growth in September, with the S&P Global Spain Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rising to 51.0 from 49.5 in August, crossing the 50-mark that separates expansion from contraction, according to survey data released Oct. 1. Production rose for the first time in four months, and new export orders increased for the first time since August 2025. Business confidence climbed to its highest level since February on expectations of stronger demand ahead. Overall new orders still fell for a fifth consecutive month, which firms attributed to uncertainty and rising prices, mainly for energy amid the U.S.-Iran war. Input cost inflation accelerated to a four-month high, while output price inflation reached a three-month peak as manufacturers passed on part of the higher costs. Employment was unchanged, ending a 12-month run of net job losses.