BEIJING — The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's non-manufacturing sector came in at 54.4 in June, up from 53.6 in May, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on June 30.

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

The figure has been rising for four consecutive months, the NBS said.

In June, the service sector continued to improve with the sub-index for business activities edging up 1.1 points from the previous month to 53.4.

Among the 21 service sectors surveyed, 15 saw expansion in their business activities.

In breakdown, the transport, postal, information transmission, information technology and financial sectors all logged more business activities, with their sub-indexes all standing above 59.

Recently, recovery momentum of the manufacturing sector was further consolidated, stimulating related business activities in the service sector, said NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe.

As the restoration of production and life orders accelerated, market confidence was enhanced and demands for the service sector kept growing, according to Zhao.

The sub-index for new orders rose 0.6 points month-on-month to 52.3, showed the data.

The construction industry also sustained growth, with its sub-index for business activities at 59.8, above 59 for three months in a row.

However, there are still some service industries facing difficulties in recovery, as the sub-indexes for business activities in culture, sports and entertainment areas below the 50-point mark, Zhao said.

The data released on June 30 also showed that the PMI for China's manufacturing sector ticked up to 50.9 in June from 50.6 in May.