China’s services sector activity falls – Best Reviews By Consumers

[1/2] A waiter cleans the floor of a restaurant after closing hours in Beijing, China October 28, 2019. Picture taken October 28, 2019. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

BEIJING, Oct 31 (Reuters) – China’s October services activity fell for the first time since May, as strict COVID restrictions halted travel and gatherings over the Golden Week holiday period, striking a big blow to consumption.

The official non-manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) stood at 48.7 from 50.6 in September, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday.

A reading above the 50-point mark indicates expansion in activity while a reading below indicates contraction.

China’s official composite PMI, which includes both manufacturing and services activity, stood at 49.0 from 50.9 in September.

Reporting by Liangping Gao and Ryan Woo; Editing by Sam Holmes

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