Expansion in China’s manufacturing sector hit a 19-month low in February, as the still-robust areas of services and construction lost some momentum, official data showed on Wednesday.
The official manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) declined for the third straight month in February to 50.3, down from 51.3 in January and marking its lowest reading since July 2016, according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). A number above 50 indicates that activity expanded, while anything below that means a contraction in manufacturing activity.
