BEIJING, Dec.31 (Reuters) – Manufacturing activity in China rose unexpectedly in December despite the resumption of the coronavirus epidemic and as the Chinese economy stalled in the fourth quarter.
According to official data released on Friday, the manufacturing PMI index stood at 50.3 in December, down from 50.1 in November.
Analysts expected the index to drop below 50 points, the threshold between contraction and expansion in activity.
In the service sector, activity grew at a slightly faster pace in December, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (SNB) show.
The services PMI index rose to 52.7 in December from 52.3 in November.
The composite PMI index, which brings together activity in the two sectors, remained stable at 52.2.
(Report Ryan Woo and Crossley; French version Camille Raynaud)