HSBC's closely watched index of Chinese manufacturing activity has shown life is not getting any busier on the world's factory floor.

汇丰银行(HSBC)提出的中国制造业活动指数始终受到人们的密切关注，该行这一指数显示中国这个世界工厂的厂房里并未变得更为繁忙。

The bank's purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector hit a reading of 48.1 for April, down from 48.3 in the preliminary, or "flash" reading for April. Any number below 50 shows contraction.

该行4月份制造业采购经理人指数(PMI)读数为48.1，比此前48.3的4月份“预览版”PMI指数有所降低。

Analysts had expected the final HSBC survey to produce a higher reading of 48.4.

分析师原本预期汇丰4月的最终PMI指数会高于48.4。

The PMI collates responses of factory bosses to questions such as their level of new orders and demand from overseas customers for exports.

PMI指数通过对各工厂老板调查的回应整理得出，调查提出的问题是诸如新订单规模、源自海外客户的出口需求情况等。

HSBC economist Qu Hongbin explained that the index was still showing contraction because of sluggish demand for goods from Chinese consumers.

汇丰银行经济学家屈宏斌解释说，由于中国消费者对商品的需求疲软，该指数仍显示出制造业有收缩趋势。

He added that Chinese factories were shedding jobs at a higher rate, and factory gate prices had fallen.

他补充说，中国工厂中的工作岗位正在加快流失，商品的出厂价也已下跌。

Qu wrote: “Data suggested that sluggish domestic demand predominantly led to the fall in total new business, as new export orders declined only slightly.

屈宏斌写道：“数据表明，国内需求的疲软是新业务总量减少的主要原因，因为新的出口订单只出现了小幅下滑。

Goods producers in China cut their staffing levels for the sixth month running in April, amid reports of company down-sizing policies which stemmed from lower production requirements. Moreover, the rate of job shedding accelerated from the previous month.

“在企业因生产需求降低而推行的减员政策不断见诸报端之际，4月份中国制造厂商连续第6个月削减人员编制。此外，工作岗位的流失速度也高于此前一个月。

Factory gate prices also fell during April, and at a solid pace. Anecdotal evidence suggested that charges were cut to boost client demand. ”

“4月份商品出厂价也在稳步下跌。有传闻显示价格的下跌是为了增加客户的需求量。”