China's non-manufacturing PMI picks up in April

Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-30 11:07:24|Editor: huaxia

BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's non-manufacturing sector came in at 53.2 in April, up from 52.3 in March, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Thursday.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below it reflects contraction.

The sub-index for business activities in the construction sector went up 4.6 points from the previous month to 59.7, while that for the service sector stood at 52.1, up 0.3 points from March.

Driven by policies in advancing work and business restoration as well as expanding consumption, most service activities steadily resumed, said NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe.

The sub-reading for business activities in the retails sector has been above 60 for two months in a row as the restoration of business operation accelerates, Zhao said.

The catering sector logged marked pickup in April, with its sub-index exceeding 60.

Expansion was also seen in business activities in the information transmission software and technical services, showing that new growth drivers have further propped up China's economic recovery and consumption growth.

However, there are still some industries facing relatively slow work and production restoration, according to Zhao.

The sub-index for business activities in the accommodation, cultural and entertainment sectors has been below 45 for the past three months due to impact from the novel coronavirus disease.

Thursday's data also showed the PMI of China's manufacturing sector eased to 50.8 in April from 52 in March. Enditem

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