Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Business activity in the manufacturing and service sectors of China for the 8th month in a row found itself in a growth zone amid economic recovery, which is gaining momentum thanks to government measures.

In October, the purchasing managers index / PMI / in the manufacturing sector amounted to 51.4 points, slightly declining since September, but exceeding market expectations, according to data from the State Statistical Office /CSO/ China.

PMI value above 50 indicates an increase in activity in the sector, and below 50 indicates a decrease.

According to Zhao Qinghe, senior statistician of the State Statistical Office, the recovery of industrial and business activity in the country is gaining momentum.

In October, the production sub-index amounted to 53.9, remaining in the growth zone, and decreased by 0.1 points compared to September; the new orders sub-index was unchanged, indicating continued demand growth, Zhao Qinghe said.

At the same time, the sub-index of new export orders rose by 0.2 points on a monthly basis to 51, and the sub-index of imports - by 0.4 points to 50.8.

Chinese brokerage Citic Securities linked the 0.1-point decline in manufacturing PMI to holiday factors, as factories closed Oct. 1-8 for the Founding of the People's Republic of China and the Mid-Autumn Festival, which nevertheless boosted the service sector. 

The breakdown of the data showed that the business activity sub-indices for rail, civil aviation and hospitality and catering remained above 59 points.

Manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMIs recovered after falling in February due to tight controls over the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Since the country has taken control of the COVID-19 outbreak, the government has taken a range of measures, including higher budget spending, tax breaks and lower reserve requirements for banks, to protect the economy from the outbreak and maintain employment.