BEIJING, March 1 -- China's service sector activity picked up in February, an official monthly survey showed on Sunday.

The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the non-manufacturing sector recovered to 53.9 in February from 53.7 in January, according to a report released jointly by the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.

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