LEBANON — Lebanon’s private sector started 2026 with a Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) of 50.1, indicating that business activity is only slightly expanding.

A PMI score above 50 shows growth, while a score below 50 signals contraction. This January figure is just 0.1 point above the equilibrium level and 1.1 points below December’s result, indicating a modest decline in sentiment among local businesses. 

The PMI is a widely used indicator compiled from surveys of purchasing managers at 400 Lebanese companies. It reflects conditions including output, new orders, employment, and supplier deliveries. 

Lebanon’s economy has faced multiple, overlapping challenges in recent years, including years of financial crisis and the effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic.

However, official estimates suggest some modest macroeconomic gains, with the World Bank estimating GDP growth of about 3.5% in 2025, and inflation possibly turning positive for the first time since 2019.