China’s non-manufacturing sector showed no sign of renewed momentum in August, with the Non-Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) remaining unchanged at 49.0, the same level recorded in July 2026.
A PMI reading below 50 typically signals contraction in activity, and the back-to-back 49.0 readings in July and August suggest continued softness in China’s services and construction sectors. The latest data, updated on 31 August 2026, indicate that non-manufacturing activity has yet to regain expansionary territory, underscoring ongoing pressures on domestic demand and business confidence.
With no improvement month-on-month, the figures will likely reinforce concerns about the strength and durability of China’s post-pandemic recovery, as investors and policymakers watch closely for signs of a turnaround in the broader economy’s key services engine.
