Department of Service Statistics of NBS

China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP)

In January 2016, non-manufacturing purchasing manager index was 53.5 percent, a decrease of 0.9 percentage points over the previous month. Non-manufacturing industry continued to keep expanding, while the growth rate slowed down.

In view of different industries, non-manufacturing purchasing manager index of service industry was 52.7 percent, a decrease of 1.0 percentage point over the previous month, and the growth rate of total business slowed down. Of which, the indices of air transport, transport via road, transport via railway, wholesale and retail trade, accommodation and restaurants, telecommunications, broadcasting, television and satellite transmission services, monetary financial services, insurance were higher than the threshold, and the total enterprise business increased rapidly; the indices of loading, unloading and portage, storage, capital market services, renting and leasing activities and business services, real estate were below the threshold, and the total enterprise business declined. Non-manufacturing purchasing manager index of construction industry achieved 57.8 percent, down by 0.5 percentage points over the previous month, and the growth rate dropped. 

New orders index was 49.6 percent, down by 2.1 percentage points over the previous month, indicating that the market demand of non-manufacturing industry decreased. In view of different industries, the new orders index of service industry was 49.0 percent, decreased 2.2 percentage points over the previous month. The new orders index of construction industry was 53.1 percent, decreased 1.9 percentage points over the previous month.

Input price index was 49.9 percent, up by 0.9 percentage points over last month, indicating that the input price during the process of production and operation of non-manufacturing enterprises continued to decrease. In view of different industries, the intermediate input price index of service industry was 49.8 percent, a slight increase of 0.3 percentage points over the previous month. The input price index of construction industry was 50.7 percent, an increase of 4.6 percentage points over the previous month.  

The sales price index was 47.7 percent, 0.5 percentage points lower over last month, and was still below the threshold, indicating that the overall level of non-manufacturing sales price continued to drop. In view of different industries, the sales price index of service industry was 47.4 percent, a decrease of 0.5 percentage points over the previous month. The sales price index of construction industry was 49.5 percent, kept at the same level over the previous month.

Employment index was 48.8 percent, decreased 0.1 percentage point over the previous month, indicating the labor employment of non-manufacturing enterprises continued to decrease. In view of different industries, the employment index of service industry was 47.9 percent, a decrease of 0.3 percentage points over the previous month. The employment index of construction industry was 53.7 percent, an increase of 1.1 percentage points over the previous month.

Business activities expectation index was 58.4 percent, went up by 0.1 percentage point over last month, and was still positioned in the high level of the range.

Annotations:

1. Explanatory Notes

China non-manufacturing purchasing manager index system constituted by 10 sub-indices, they are business activity index, new orders index, new export orders index in hand orders index, stock index, input price index, sales price index, employment index, supplier delivery time index, and business activities expectation index. Due to the lack of synthesis of non-manufacturing integrated PMI index, the international society often used business activity index to reflect the overall changes in non-manufacturing economic development, A PMI reading above 50 percent indicates expansion from the previous month, while below indicates contraction.

2. Statistical Coverage

The statistical coverage has been adjusted since June 2015. Non-manufacturing industry divisions in the “Industrial Classification for National Economic Activities" (GB/T4754-2011) were extended to 31 from original 27, and sampling enterprises were extended to 4000 from original 1200.

3. Survey Methods

Non-manufacturing purchasing managers’ survey was conducted in PPS ( Probability Proportional to Size) sampling method, using the non-manufacturing sectors as the selecting layers, distribution of sample size was according to their value-added accounted for the proportion of total non-manufacturing value-added, and samples within layers and the main business revenue of the enterprises were selected by the PPS.

The survey was organized and conducted by staff members of survey offices, monthly through Online Reporting System of NBS by sending survey questionnaires to the purchasing managers of the selected enterprises.

4. Calculation Methods

Non-manufacturing purchasing managers survey involves 10 questions on production, new orders (business required), export, existing orders, finished goods inventory, intermediate input price, subscription price, employees, suppliers delivery time, and business activities expectation. Diffusion index was calculated on each question, i.e. percentage of positive answers in number of enterprises plus half of the percentage in the same answers.

5. Seasonal Adjustment Note

The purchasing managers survey is a monthly survey, great fluctuations of data which affected by seasonal factors. At present, time series of China's non-manufacturing PMI have met the technical requirements of the seasonally adjustment, and the sub-indices of non-manufacturing PMI data on seasonally adjusted will be released since March 2012.

6. Explanation on Release Date Change

Since 2015, non-manufacturing PMI data will be released on the 1st of each month, which was originally on the 3rd of each month. At the same time, in order to make it easier for the public to understand the meaning of related indicators, the original “intermediate input price index” was changed to “input prices index”, and the original “subscription price index” was changed to “sales prices index”.