The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) of China's manufacturing sector rose to 53.8 percent in September, up 2.1 percentage points from August, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) said Friday.

The reading of the September index was the highest since May and marked the 19th consecutive months that the index was above the boom-bust line of 50 percent.

The PMI includes a package of indices to measure performance of the country's manufacturing sector. A reading above 50 percent indicates economic expansion, while that below 50 percent indicates contraction.

According to the CFLP, nine of the 11 sub-indices, including production, new orders increased in September compared with August.

(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2010)