The Chinese non-manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 54.7 points last month from 53.8 the month before, rising for the third month in a row, the National Bureau of Statistics has announced – a sign of progress in the government endeavour to make services a bigger driver of the economy.

The bureau issued a written statement saying the services PMI rose to 53.6 last month from 52.3 the month before.

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

The manufacturing PMI rose to 49.5 in January from 49.4 the month before, the National Bureau of Statistics statement says.

The Chinese government is trying to make consumption, services and innovation greater contributors to economic growth, and last year services accounted for 52.2 percent of gross domestic product.