Egypt's non-oil private sector deteriorated at its sharpest pace in almost two years in March, as the Middle East war drove up costs and dampened client demand, a closely watched business survey showed on Sunday. The headline S&P Global Egypt Purchasing Managers' Index fell for a fourth consecutive month, dropping to 48.0 in March from 48.9 in February — its lowest reading since April 2024. The figure remained below the 50.0 threshold that separates growth from contraction, though it was broadly in line with the survey's long-run average of 48.2. Output and new orders were the chief drags on the index, with both measures also hitting their lowest levels for nearly two years. Firms frequently blamed the Middle East conflict for dampening client demand, partly through intensifying price pressures.