China Service Industry Index Falls After Manufacturing Declines

A China services index fell to a four-month low in December, highlighting limits on the strength of economic growth after declines in manufacturing gauges.

The non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index slid to 54.

6 in December from 56 in November, the Beijing-based National Bureau of Statistics and China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said Friday in Beijing.

A number more than 50 indicates an expansion.
The ruling Communist Party is trying to restructure the economy for more sustainable long-term growth, while maintaining a sufficient pace of expansion to protect jobs.

A jump in money-market rates, surging property prices in some cities and swelling local-government debt threaten to undermine the government's efforts.

Friday's data followed declines reported this week in two Chinese manufacturing indexes.

BUSINESSDAYONLINE