China's private sector skyrocket unexpectedly
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Topics: CHINA PRIVATE SECTOR
The composite output index climbed to 53.0 from 28.9 a month ago, survey results published by the National Bureau of Statistics showed Tuesday. A score above 50 indicates expansion.
The manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose sharply to 52.0 from 35.7 in February. The reading was expected to rise to 44.8.
Likewise, the non-manufacturing PMI advanced 22.7 points to 52.3 in the previous month. Economists had forecast the reading to climb to 42.0.
The NBS said improvement largely reflects the low base effect compared to February. Factories largely resumed operations but it does not mean that the actual production returned to pre epidemic level.
The statistical office noted that the spread of virus globally has hit trade and bring severe challenges to the Chinese economy. ■