Japan's manufacturing sector expanded at a quickened pace during April amid improved growth rates in output and new orders. With robust demand exerting pressure on the production line, firms enhanced operating capacities by raising employment. Nonetheless, greater staff levels did not prevent backlogs of work from increasing. On the price front, inflation rates for both input costs and output charges softened.

The headline Nikkei Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) posted 53.8 in April, up from 53.1 in March to signal a solid improvement in operating conditions for Japanese manufacturers