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[National Bureau of Statistics: Non-Manufacturing Business Activity Index at 49.7% in October] In October, the non-manufacturing business activity index was 49.7%, down 0.5 percentage points from the previous month, indicating a decline in the non-manufacturing sector's business activity level. By sector, the construction business activity index was 48.0%, down 2.3 percentage points from the previous month; the service sector business activity index was 50.0%, down 0.2 percentage points from the previous month. Within the service sector, the business activity indices for railway transportation, water transportation, postal services, and internet software and information technology services were all above 55.0%, indicating a relatively high level of activity; while the business activity indices for capital market services, insurance, and real estate were all below the critical point. The new orders index was 44.4%, down 2.1 percentage points from the previous month, indicating a decline in market demand in the non-manufacturing sector. By sector, the construction new orders index was 40.0%, down 5.7 percentage points from the previous month; the service sector new orders index was 45.2%, down 1.5 percentage points from the previous month. The input price index was 51.5%, down 1.0 percentage point from the previous month, indicating that the overall price increase of inputs used by non-manufacturing enterprises for operating activities narrowed. By sector, the input price index for the construction industry was 52.4%, down 1.6 percentage points from the previous month; the input price index for the service industry was 51.4%, down 0.8 percentage points from the previous month. The sales price index was 49.5%, down 0.8 percentage points from the previous month, indicating that the overall sales price level of non-manufacturing enterprises declined somewhat. By sector, the sales price index for the construction industry was 48.9%, up 0.4 percentage points from the previous month; the sales price index for the service industry was 49.6%, down 1.0 percentage point from the previous month. The employment index was 46.0%, up 0.1 percentage point from the previous month, indicating a slight improvement in the employment situation of non-manufacturing enterprises. By sector, the employment index for the construction industry was 42.0%, down 2.3 percentage points from the previous month; the employment index for the service industry was 46.7%, up 0.5 percentage points from the previous month. The business activity expectation index was 54.7%, down 0.8 percentage points from the previous month, but still above the critical point, indicating that non-manufacturing enterprises maintain confidence in market development. By sector, the business activity expectation index for the construction industry was 52.3%, down 3.1 percentage points from the previous month; the business activity expectation index for the service industry was 55.2%, down 0.3 percentage points from the previous month.