{
  "id": 11273525,
  "title": "Global factory activity boosted by AI spending boom",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/global-factory-activity-boosted-by-ai-spending-boom",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-30T21:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf Times Business",
    "slug": "gulf-times-business",
    "url": "https://www.gulf-times.com/article/734616/business/global-factory-activity-boosted-by-ai-spending-boom"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Factory activity across Europe and Asia surged last month, driven partly by a global boom in artificial intelligence (AI) spending, as demand remained resilient despite elevated energy prices stemming from the Iran war. Strong demand for AI and defense equipment propelled growth, particularly in the Netherlands, while Germany and Japan also recorded solid expansion. However, rising inflation pressures triggered interest rate hikes from major central banks, including the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank, leading to a sharp fall in bond markets and rising borrowing costs for businesses. Despite these challenges, many factories are benefiting from a surge in product demand. In Asia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan experienced manufacturing growth, with South Korea's PMI hitting a four-month high due to strong export demand. Meanwhile, China's factory activity expanded as weather disruptions subsided, while Japan's PMI declined to its weakest level in six months due to slowing output and new orders. India's manufacturing sector also saw a significant boost, with activity expanding at the fastest pace in seven months.",
  "summary": "Factory activity across Europe and Asia expanded last month as demand, partly boosted by the global AI spending boom, remained strong even as the energy price shock from the Iran war kept inflation el...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}