Manufacturing sector shrinks while non-manufacturing grows
By Ouyang Shijia | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-05-31 10:39
China's manufacturing sector shrank further into contraction in May while non-manufacturing activity expanded at a slower pace, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Wednesday.
The official purchasing managers index for China's manufacturing sector stood at 48.8 in May, down from 49.2 in April, according to the NBS, below the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction.
The sub-indexes for production and new orders came in at 49.6 and 48.3 in May, respectively, down from 50.2 and 48.8 in April.
China's non-manufacturing PMI came in at 54.5 in May, down from 56.4 a month earlier. Also, the country's official composite PMI, which includes both manufacturing and non-manufacturing activities, came in at 52.9 in May compared with 54.4 in April, according to the NBS.
Zhao Qinghe, a senior NBS statistician, said China's business came under pressure in May, and more efforts should be made to consolidate the foundation for economic recovery.
ouyangshijia@chinadaily.com.cn