BEIJING, Aug 31 (Reuters) – China’s manufacturing activity contracted for a second consecutive month in August, albeit less sharply than expected, due to the resurgence of the COVID-19 epidemic, the rationing of electricity due to the heat wave and the crisis in the real estate sector.
According to official data published on Wednesday, the PMI manufacturing index stood at 49.4 in August, against 49.0 the previous month, ie once again below the 50 threshold which separates contraction and expansion of activity.
Analysts polled by Reuters on average expected an index of 49.2.
Data released separately by the National Bureau of Statistics (BNS) indicates that activity in the services sector grew less strongly in August, due to the health restrictions linked to COVID-19 and the heat wave. unprecedented for decades in China.
The official services PMI fell to 52.6 from 53.8 last month.
Combining the two sectors, the official composite PMI index stood at 51.7 in August against 52.5 in July. (Report Ellen Zhang and Ryan Woo; French version Jean Terzian)