Egypt’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) reading dished to 49.2 in March from 49.7 last month. Sentiment dipping to an eight-month low as well as a downward movement in sub-components, such as new orders and employment, drove the drop. However, data compiled by Markit positively signaled easing inflationary pressures across the non-oil private sector as both input prices and output charges increased at softer rates. Input costs, in particular, also dropped to a 30-month low. New export orders were up for the third month running as well, with demand from Middle Eastern countries picking up.