China's non-manufacturing PMI falls in February

An employee works on the production line of a heavy machinery manufacturing firm in Suining, Sichuan province. [LIU CHANGSONG/FOR CHINA DAILY]

BEIJING -- The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's non-manufacturing sector came in at 51.4 in February, down from 52.4 of January, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Sunday.

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