China's Official February PMI 52.2

China's official Purchasing Managers Index fell to 52.2 in February from 52.9 in January, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, which issues the data with the National Bureau of Statistics, said Tuesday.

February was the third consecutive month in which the PMI, a measure of manufacturing activity, fell compared with the previous month. However, the input price subindex rose to 70.1 in February from 69.3 in January, indicating inflation pressures are continuing to rise in China.

Economists said February's PMI reading may have been distorted by the Lunar New Year holiday, which fell on Feb. 2-8.

A PMI reading above 50 indicates an expansion in manufacturing activity, while a reading below 50 indicates contraction.

CFLP analyst Zhang Liqun said in a statement the PMI reading shows the degree of any economic slowdown "will not be very great."


China's Official February Purchasing Managers Index Table Of Data

Component subindexes　　 February　　 January
Output　　　　　　　　　　 53.8　　　　55.3
New orders　　　　　　　　 54.3　　　　54.9
New export orders　　　　　50.9　　　　50.7
Backlog of orders　　　　　46.6　　　　46.5
Stocks of finished goods　 46.4　　　　47.9
Quantity of purchases　　　54.5　　　　57.7
Imports　　　　　　　　　　53.9　　　　53.0
Input prices　　　　　　　 70.1　　　　69.3
Stocks of purchases　　　　49.5　　　　52.0
Employment　　　　　　　　 48.9　　　　49.0
Suppliers' delivery time　 48.2　　　　49.5