Lebanon PMI rises to 51.2 in February as new orders rebound
#Lebanon PMI #Economic expansion #New orders #Inflation #Tax hikes #Business confidence #Domestic demand #Employment growth
📌 Key Takeaways
- Lebanon PMI rose to 51.2 in February, indicating expansion for the seventh consecutive month
- New orders rebounded, driven primarily by domestic demand while export orders continued to decline
- Business activity increased and employment rose for the first time since November
- Inflationary pressures intensified due to tax hikes, with purchase prices reaching a five-month high
📖 Full Retelling
Lebanon's private sector expanded for a seventh consecutive month in February, with the BLOM Lebanon PMI rising to 51.2 from 50.1 in January, according to data released on March 4, 2026, as new orders rebounded particularly from domestic sources. The improvement marked the longest uninterrupted sequence of growth since the survey began in 2013, signaling a positive turn in the country's struggling economy. The PMI reading above 50.0 indicates expansion in business conditions, with private sector firms reporting increased activity after stagnating in January. New orders received by businesses rose at a solid pace, a marked improvement from January when demand virtually stalled, though export orders declined marginally for a third successive month. This domestic demand surge encouraged companies to raise purchasing volumes for the sixth time in the past seven months and hire additional staff, marking the first employment increase since November. However, the positive developments came with inflationary pressures as purchase price inflation quickened to a five-month high due to excise taxes and higher fees for imported products, with output charges lifted to the greatest extent since September 2025 following the cabinet's announcement of petrol and value-added tax hikes.
🏷️ Themes
Economic Growth, Inflation, Business Confidence, Tax Policy Impact
📚 Related People & Topics
Inflation
Devaluation of money's purchasing power
In economics, inflation is an increase in the average price of goods and services in terms of money. This increase is measured using a price index, typically a consumer price index (CPI). When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation...
Economic expansion
Upturn in economic activity
An economic expansion is an upturn in the level of economic activity and of the goods and services available. It is a finite period of growth, often measured by a rise in real GDP, that marks a reversal from a previous period, for example, while recovering from a recession. The explanation of fluctu...
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try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry Futures lower, oil rises as Iran conflict enters fifth day - what’s moving markets Oil prices surge higher as conflict threatens supply; Goldman lifts forecasts South Korean stock trading temporarily halted as KOSPI slides over 11% Goldman lifts oil price forecast amid Hormuz disruptions, lower inventories (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) Lebanon PMI rises to 51.2 in February as new orders rebound By Editor Maria Ponnezhath Economic Indicators Editor Maria Ponnezhath Published 03/04/2026, 04:44 AM Lebanon PMI rises to 51.2 in February as new orders rebound 0 Investing.com -- Lebanon’s private sector expanded for a seventh consecutive month in February, with the BLOM Lebanon PMI rising to 51.2 from 50.1 in January, according to data released Wednesday. The improvement marked the longest uninterrupted sequence of growth since the survey began in 2013. The PMI reading above 50.0 indicates expansion in business conditions. New orders received by private sector businesses rose at a solid pace in February, a marked improvement from January when demand virtually stalled. Sales growth was driven by domestic demand, as new export orders declined marginally for a third successive month. Business activity increased at a robust pace in February after stagnating in January. Private sector firms also raised their purchasing volumes for the sixth time in the past seven months. Capacity pressures emerged as backlogs of work accumulated to the greatest degree in a year. This encouraged private sector companies to hire additional staff, marking the first employment increase since November. Inflationary pressures intensified during the month. Purchase price inflation quickened to a five-month high, reflecting excise taxes and higher fees for imported products. Staff costs increased marginally, the first rise in wage bills in three months. Subsequently, output charges were lifted to the greatest extent since September 2025. In...
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