(Yicai Global) Sept. 23 -- China's power consumption, considered a key gauge of economic activity, jumped 3.6 percent last month compared with a year earlier, the nation's top energy policy bureau said.

Electricity use stood at 677 billion kilowatt-hours in August, according to data the National Energy Administration released today. From January to August, the figure gained 4.4 percent year on year to 4.74 trillion kWh.

The NEA did not elaborate on the reasons for the increase, but industry used 4.1 percent more power last month and 2.8 percent more between January and August.

Editor: Emmi Laine