China's manufacturing PMI drops in Feb

 　　BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhua) -- China's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector¹ fell for a second month to 50.1 percent in February from 50.4 percent in January, according to data released Friday.

　　The China Federation² of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) said in a statement on its website that the drop is mainly due to the weeklong Spring Festival holiday that fell in last month.

　　The Spring Festival, or China's lunar new year, is the country's most important traditional holiday for family reunions. This year, Chinese people enjoyed a holiday from Feb. 9 to 15.

　　At present, China's industrial production is generally steady at present and companies are relatively³ optimistic about future economic prospects⁴, the statement said.

　　"In general, the country's economy is still on the course of stabilization," according to the CFLP.

　　The February figure marked the fifth consecutive⁵ month that the PMI stayed above 50 percent, which demarcates expansion from contraction⁶, CFLP data showed.

1 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

2 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

5 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

6 contraction   

n.缩略词，缩写式，害病

参考例句：

• The contraction of this muscle raises the lower arm.肌肉的收缩使前臂抬起。
• The forces of expansion are balanced by forces of contraction.扩张力和收缩力相互平衡。