China non-manufacturing activity expands at slower pace in April

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s non-manufacturing activity expanded at a slower pace in April, an official survey showed on Tuesday, likely due to disruption caused to construction and services businesses by adverse weather in the southern region.

The official non-manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI), which includes services and construction, fell to 51.2 from 53.0 in March, showed data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

The composite PMI, which includes manufacturing and services, came at 51.7 in April, compared with 52.7 in March.

The 50-point mark separates expansion from contraction in activity on a monthly basis.

(Reporting by Ellen Zhang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Christopher Cushing)