China's non-manufacturing sector Purchasing Managers Index improves for 3rd month

The Purchasing Managers Index of the non-manufacturing sector was 56.1 per cent in December, up 0.5 percentage points from November marking a rise for third consecutive month, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) said.

A PMI reading above 50 per cent indicates expansion from the previous month, while a reading below 50 per cent indicates contraction.

Cai Jin, vice chairman of the CFLP, said that the figure showed a continued rebound and accelerating growth in the non-manufacturing sector.

The figures followed Tuesday's release of the manufacturing sector PMI, which remained unchanged at 50.6 per cent from November but was the third consecutive month for it to stay above 50 per cent, a media report said.

With economic data improving in recent months, many economists have projected a growth rebound in China in the last quarter of the year.