China’s manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) in May stood at 51.2, according to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday.

Level with April’s PMI, the figure represented the eighth month in a row with a reading above 50, indicating that China’s manufacturing activity has continued to expand for eight months.

CGTN Graphic, designed by Yu Peng.

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

The expansion was driven by supply and demand and increased production, which showed an indication of 53.4. Meanwhile, the growth of consumer goods production also expanded, 53.8, in May, according to NBS statistician Zhao Qinghe.

Equipment manufacturing, high-tech manufacturing and consumer goods manufacturing maintained robust growth, with the sub-indices all above 52, proving their increasingly important roles in the manufacturing sector.