The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China’s manufacturing sector was at 49.2 percent in February of the current year, down 0.3 percentage points compared to January, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
In February, the production index for China's manufacturing sector was down 1.4 percentage points compared to January, decreasing to 49.5 percent, while the new order index for the sector rose by 1.0 percentage point compared to the previous month to 50.6 percent.
The raw material inventory index for China's manufacturing sector was at 46.3 percent in February, down 1.8 percentage points compared to the previous month.
Also in February, the employment index for China's manufacturing sector stood at 46.3 percent, down 1.8 percentage points, while the supplier delivery time index for the sector in question was at 49.8 percent, down 0.3 percentage points, both month on month.