China services sector expands in December – survey

The Caixin China General Services Business Activity Index recorded 52.9 in December, rising 1.4 points from 51.5 in November, according to a new survey released on Thursday.

“The gauge remained in expansion throughout the entire year, signalling a sustained recovery in the services sector,” said Senior Economist at Caixin Insight Group Wang Zhe.

Foreign demand for Chinese services also increased last month. Around 214,000 travellers from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia entered China in December after the visa-free policy took effect, up 28.5 per cent from November, according to the National Immigration Administration.