BEIJING — China’s manufacturing sector expanded at a slower but stable pace in October, according to official data on Oct 31.

The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) came in at 51.6, moderating from 52.4 in September and 51.7 in August, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

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

NBS statistician Zhao Qinghe mainly attributed the slowdown in expansion to a high base in September and influence from the weeklong holiday.

“The growth in production and market demand eased,” he said.

Meanwhile, factory activity in high energy consumption and heavy pollution softened as the government stepped up efforts to strengthen environmental protection. Non-metallic mineral products and oil refining went down markedly.

“Despite the retreat, the indicator was still 0.4 percentage points higher than that of a year ago and staying at the average level of this year,” Zhao said, pointing to the impetus from high-end manufacturing and the production of consumer goods.

The manufacturing of automobiles, special equipment, electric apparatus, medical devices, food and beverage, textile and garment registered strong increases.

China’s nonmanufacturing sector saw milder expansion in October, with the PMI at 54.3, down from 55.4 in September.