In this undated file photo, workers inspect a hydrogen tube at a truck factory in Luanxian city, Hebei province. The vehicles are being used to deliver the gas to Winter Olympic venues. (LI MINGFA / FOR CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING - The purchasing managers' index for China's manufacturing sector came in at 50.2 in February, up from 50.1 in January, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Tuesday.

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

In February, the sub-index measuring purchase prices of major raw materials rose 3.6 percentage points to 60. The sub-index for prices at the factory gate was 54.1, up 3.2 percentage points from January

"With rising demand and sound market expectations, business performance improved in February," said NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe.

ALSO READ: China remains world's top manufacturing hub for 12th year

In February, the sub-index measuring purchase prices of major raw materials rose 3.6 percentage points to 60. The sub-index for prices at the factory gate was 54.1, up 3.2 percentage points from January.

The sub-index for production reached 50.4, down 0.5 percentage points from a month ago but has remained in the expansion area for four consecutive months.

READ MORE: Industry bright spot for future expansion

The PMI for the non-manufacturing sector came in at 51.6 in February, up from 51.1 in January, said the NBS

The non-manufacturing sector overall picked up its recovery pace last month, according to Zhao.Due to an uptick in the business climate of the services sector, the sub-index for business activities in the sector edged up 0.2 percentage points to 50.5 in February, but still lower than the usual level of Spring Festival holiday months in previous years. 

The overall business expectation of the construction sector strengthened, with the sub-index for business activities in the sector standing at 57.6 in February, surging 2.2 percentage points from the previous month.