An index value above 50 shows expansion in the manufacturing sector, while a value under 50 signals contraction.

Among the sub-indices that comprise the PMI, the production volume index fell but was still over the 50-point threshold.

New orders index was also over the 50-point threshold but it also fell compared to the September data.

Delivery times were longer than in September, the sub-index remained above the 50-point threshold in April 2015.

Purchased stocks were down in October after growing in September.

The employment index climbed back above 50 points in October, having fallen under the threshold in September for the first time since April.