China's monthly index of service-sector activity rose to 56.1 per cent in December, climbing for a third consecutive month, dpa quoted the government as saying on Thursday. The rise in the monthly Purchasing Managers Index for China's non-manufacturing sector is the latest sign that growth of the world's second-largest economy may have picked up after slowing for most of last year. The index, which measures the proportion of purchasing managers reporting a rise in activity, was up from 55.6 per cent in November, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said. A similar monthly index for China's manufacturing industries was unchanged from November at 50.6 per cent, the government said on Tuesday. The country's estimated annual economic growth for 2012, scheduled to be announced on January 18, is expected to fall below 8 per cent, down from 9.3 per cent in 2011 to the lowest year-on-year rate since 1999. But analysts expect growth to rebound this year as the government promotes domestic demand and tries to shift the economy away from its long reliance on exports. The World Bank has forecast growth of 8.4 per cent in China this year. China's service-sector purchasing managers index is based on a survey of some 1,200 companies in 27 industries.
