BEIJING — The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's non-manufacturing sector came in at 55.2 in August, up from 54.2 in July, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Aug 31.

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

The non-manufacturing PMI has remained above 50 for six months in a row, data from the NBS showed.

In August, the service sector accelerated its pace of recovery, with the sub-index for business activities expanding 1.2 points from the previous month to 54.3.

As the domestic COVID-19 prevention and control situation remained stable, consumer demand was further unleashed amid business restoration and reviving market activities, said NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe.

Driven by the overall economic recovery in China, the sub-index for business activities of leasing and business services returned to the expansion zone for the first time since the outbreak of the epidemic, Zhao noted.

Meanwhile, the sub-index for activities in the construction sector dropped 0.3 points to 60.2 percent, down from a relatively high expansion level.

Aug 31's data also showed that the PMI for China's manufacturing sector came in at 51 in August, in expansion zone but down from 51.1 in July.