MNI BRIEF: China Aug Manufacturing PMI Edges Up Slightly

China's Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index edged up 0.1 points to 49.4 in August, staying below the breakeven 50 mark for the fifth month, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Sunday.

The production and new order sub-indices were 50.8 and 49.5 respectively, up 0.3 and 0.1 points from the previous month. The purchasing price of major raw materials and ex-factory price sub-indices were 53.3 and 49.1, up 1.8 and 0.8 points from July, rising for three consecutive months. 

The non-manufacturing PMI registered 50.3, up 0.2 points from the previous month. The business activity sub-index for the service sector rose by 0.5 points to 50.5, reaching a high point this year, while that of the construction sector declined 1.5 points to 49.1 amid recent hot and rainy weather.