The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's non-manufacturing sector came in at 49 in July, down from the previous month's 50.2, official data showed. The sub-index for business activity in the construction sector stood at 47 in July, dropping from 49 in June, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics.

As an indicator of macroeconomic trends, a PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion while a reading below 50 signals contraction.

The new orders index for the non-manufacturing sector declined last month, indicating a reduction in market demand. Specifically, the readings for the construction sector and service sector stood at 40.1 and 45.2, respectively. However, the business activity expectation index for the construction sector rose to 51.8 in July, up from 51.1 in June, while that for the service sector came in at 56, unchanged from the previous month, the data showed. (Xinhua)