China's non-manufacturing sector shrinks in April

BEIJING -- China's non-manufacturing sector shrank in April, according to figures issued on Friday.

The purchasing managers index (PMI) for the non-manufacturing sector stood at 54.5 percent in April, down 1.1 percentage points from the previous month, the National Bureau of Statistics said in an online statement.

A PMI reading above 50 percent indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 percent indicates contraction.