Share prices in Shanghai were down 14% in July, the worst monthly performance since August 2009, triggering fears that damaged sentiment could spill over into the financial sector and the broader economy. On Saturday , the China Manufacturing Purchasing Management ' Index for July showed that activity was slipping , pointing to continued growth in the country . According to the National Bureau of Statistics , the index slipped to 50.0 in July , down from 50.2 in June . A PMI reading above 50 indicates an expansion in manufacturing activity , while a reading below points to a contraction . Additionally , the official China Purchasing Managers ' Index ( [UNK] ) for July came in at 47.8 , lower than the preliminary reading of 48.2 , marking a two - year low .
On Saturday , the China Manufacturing Purchasing Management ' Index for July showed that activity was slipping , pointing to continued growth in the country . According to the National Bureau of Statistics , the index slipped to 50.0 in July , down from 50.2 in June . A PMI reading above 50 indicates an expansion in manufacturing activity , while a reading below points to a contraction . Additionally , the official China Purchasing Managers ' Index ( [UNK] ) for July came in at 47.8 , lower than the preliminary reading of 48.2 , marking a two - year low .