BEIJING, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's non-manufacturing sector came in at 50 in September, down 0.3 percentage points from the previous month, official data showed Tuesday.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction, and this month's PMI is at the threshold that separates the two.

"The total business activity in the non-manufacturing sector remained broadly stable," said Huo Lihui, a chief statistician with the National Bureau of Statistics.

The sub-index for the service sector stood at 50.1, remaining in expansion territory.

Business activity indices for postal, telecom, radio, television, and satellite transmission services, as well as currency and financial services, stood above 60, indicating rapid expansion.

In contrast, as the boost from the summer travel season receded, business activity indices for industries such as catering, culture, sports, and entertainment were below the boom-bust line. The business expectation index for the service sector stood at a relatively high level of 56.3, showing service enterprises are optimistic about the market.

The business activity index for the construction sector came in at 49.3 percent, up 0.2 percentage points from the previous month. The business activity expectation index registered 52.4 percent, up 0.7 percentage points from the previous month, suggesting a slight boost in confidence among construction firms regarding near-term market development. ■