China's non-manufacturing PMI rises to 54.1 pct in July

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The purchasing managers index (PMI) for China's non-manufacturing sector stood at 54.1 percent in July, up from 53.9 percent for June, according to official data released on Saturday.

A PMI reading above 50 percent indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 percent indicates contraction, according to the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP).

The improving non-manufacturing figure is in line with China's manufacturing PMI, which also rose in July to 50.3 percent from 50.1 percent in June, according to previously released figures.

Cai Jin, vice chairman of the CFLP, said the slight increase indicated a good start for China's economy in the second half of the year.

"Although challenges remain, China's economy has the foundations for steady growth," Cai said.

China's economy has been stuck in a protracted weak recovery, easing to 7.5-percent growth in the second quarter from 7.7 percent in the first three months and 7.9 percent in the final quarter of 2012. Worries are growing that the prolonged slowdown could weigh on the global economy.

According to the CFLP, an increasingly active service sector has been the main driving force for non-manufacturing activity in July.

In the service sector, the sub-indices for business activity and new orders both rose for two consecutive months, up to 53.0 percent and 50.0 percent, respectively. The sub-index for employment gained three percentage points to 53 percent.

The CFLP said information-related consumption increased rapidly during the period. New types of business in the service sector will boost economic growth and restructuring in the second half, it said.

China's non-manufacturing PMI is based on a survey of about 1,200 companies in 27 industries.

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