(Yicai Global) Nov. 2 -- One of the two maingauges of factory activity in China neared its highest level in a decade last month as the country’s economic recovery gathered steam.

The Caixin purchasing managers' index for manufacturingstayed in expansion territory for a sixth straight month in October, edging up 0.6 point to 53.6, according to a benchmark that financial media outlet Caixin published today. That was the highest level since February 2011.

The economic upturn is expected to continue in coming months as the coronavirus pandemic within the nation is now well under control, Wang Zhe, a senior economist at Caixin Insight Group, said in a commentary released along with the figures. But uncertainty about overseas demand may hold, as a rebound in infections could hit exports again, he added.

The official manufacturing PMI that the National Bureau of Statistics released yesterday fell 0.1 point from September to 51.4 in October, remaining above the 50 mark that signals expansion for the eighth month in a row. The official PMI tracks mostly large and state-backed companies.

The Caixin PMI, also known as the Caixin-Markit PMI, surveys 500 businesses that are typically smaller and privately owned.

Editor: Ben Armour