In this undated photo, a worker checks the operation of a carbon fiber production line at a factory in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province of China. (GENG YUHE / FOR CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING – The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector came in at 50.2 in September, bouncing back to the expansion zone, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Saturday.

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

READ MORE: China's manufacturing PMI up in August

This is the first time since April the PMI for China's manufacturing sector has surged above 50, following four consecutive months of growth, according to the NBS.

Non-manufacturing PMI came in at 51.7 in September, up 0.7 percentage points from August and standing above the boom-or-bust line

NBS statistician Zhao Qinghe said that there has been an overall improvement in the manufacturing climate.

Among the 21 surveyed industries, 11 reported expansion in September, the data showed. 

China's composite PMI stood at 52 in September, indicating that overall production at manufacturing and non-manufacturing enterprises has continued to expand, Zhao said.

Non-manufacturing PMI

Saturday's data also revealed that non-manufacturing PMI came in at 51.7 in September, up 0.7 percentage points from a month earlier and standing above the boom-or-bust line.

The sub-index for the service sector was 50.9 in September, up 0.4 percentage points from a month earlier, according to the NBS.

The service sector expanded at a faster pace during the period, said Zhao, adding that business activities in water transport, postal as well as monetary and financial sectors stood well above 55. 

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The construction sector maintained brisk growth this month with its sub-index for business activities growing 2.4 percentage points to 56.2, said the NBS statistician.

The sub-index measuring expectations for activities in the sector came in at 61.8, indicating rather strong optimism among construction enterprises.