The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) of China's manufacturing sector stood at 53.1 percent in May, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) said Monday.

The figure was down 0.4 percentage points from a month ago, said CFLP.

It was the third consecutive month the PMI rebounded to above 50 percent since July 2008, when the index fell to 48.4 percent.

A reading of above 50 suggests expansion, while one below 50 indicates contraction.