(Yicai Global) July 31 -- China's manufacturing purchasing managers index edged up 0.3 percentage point from the previous month to 49.7 this month, still in the contraction zone, according to official data from the National Bureau of Statistics. A number below 50 suggests a slowdown.

Among the 21 industries surveyed, 12 expanded, which was three more than last month. Some of those were the fields of tobacco, papermaking, medicine, electrical equipment, as well as computers and communication equipment.

The subcategory of productivity rose 0.8 percentage point over the month to 52.1 percent and that of new orders advanced 0.2 percentage point to 49.8 percent, both of which rose for the first time in four months. 

Editor: Emmi Laine