This undated photo shows a worker checking the operation of a carbon fiber production line at a factory in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China. (GENG YUHE / FOR CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING – The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector came in at 47 in December, down from 48 in the previous month, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Saturday.

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

The sub-index for large enterprises stood at 48.3 percent in December, down 0.8 percentage points from the previous month.

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The sub-index for production stood at 44.6 in December, down 3.2 percentage points compared to the previous month. Demand in the manufacturing market also declined, with the sub-index for new orders dropping 2.5 percentage points from a month earlier to 43.9.

Non-manufacturing PMI also down 

The PMI for China's non-manufacturing sector came in at 41.6 in December, down from 46.7 in November, the NBS data showed.

The construction sector maintained expansion in December, with the sub-index for business activities reaching 54.4, 1 percentage point lower than the previous month.

The service sector was weaker in December as COVID-19 and other factors weighed on market activities. The sub-index for business activities declined 5.7 percentage points from the previous month to 39.4.

But sub-indexes measuring business activities in air transport, telecommunications, radio and television, satellite transmission services, and monetary and financial services, stood above 52 and remained in the expansion range.

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The sub-indexes for business activities in retail, road transport, accommodation and catering stood below 35. 

Demand in the non-manufacturing market also declined, with the sub-index for new orders dropping 3.2 percentage points from the previous month to 39.1.