A staff member works at an auto parts factory in Liuyang city, central China's Hunan province, Feb 1, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - The purchasing managers' index for China's manufacturing sector came in at 49.1 in February, down from 49.2 last month, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Friday.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction.

NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe largely attributed the drop to the Spring Festival holiday, which lasted from Feb 10 to Feb 17. During this period, employees typically return home, resulting in a traditional manufacturing off-season.

The sub-index for new orders was 49, flat with the previous month, but remained in the contraction range

The sub-index for large enterprises was 50.4, flat with the previous month, but remained in the expansion range. Meanwhile, the sub-index for production was 49.8, a 1.5 decrease from the previous month, indicating less active production.

ALSO READ: China's Hengqin lifts tariffs for most imports from Macao

The sub-index for new orders was 49, flat with the previous month, but remained in the contraction range. This indicated slumping demand in the manufacturing market in February compared to the previous month.

Manufacturing companies remained optimistic in regards to consistent market expansion, with the sub-index for production and business forecasts standing at 54.2, up 0.2 from the previous month.

The PMI for China's non-manufacturing sector came in at 51.4 in February, up from 50.7 in January.

PMI for non-manufacturing sector at 51.4

The PMI for China's non-manufacturing sector came in at 51.4 in February, up from 50.7 in January, the NBS said Friday.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction.

The sub-index for the service sector stood at 51 in February, up 0.9 percentage points from the previous month.

ALSO READ: China's global trade in goods, services hits 4.23t yuan in Jan

Industries closely related to travel and consumption during the Spring Festival holiday were brisker last month, said senior NBS statistician Zhao Qinghe.

Zhao said the sub-indices of retail sales, rail transport, road transport, catering, ecological protection and the management of public facilities all stood above 53, while that of air transport, monetary and financial services, and culture, sports and entertainment all stood above 60.

Enterprises anticipate services activities to pick up, with the sub-index for business expectations standing at 58.1, down 1.2 percentage points from the previous month. This highlights the unwavering confidence that enterprises have for the future development of the sector.

The construction sector maintained expansion this month, with its sub-index for business activities standing at 53.5 despite the effect of the holiday, as well as low temperatures, rain and snow.

The sub-index measuring expectations for activities in the construction sector came in at 55.7, indicating optimism among construction enterprises.