Business activity across China's private service sector expanded in September, with the headline RatingDog China General Services Business Activity Index, compiled by S&P Global, coming in at 51.6, according to data released on Wednesday.

The latest reading beat the consensus forecast of 51.1 tracked by Investing.com, and compared with the 51.4 recorded in the previous month.

It was higher than the official government non-manufacturing PMI, which stood at 50.2.

The monthly momentum was primarily driven by stronger new-business inflows, with total new orders expanding at the fastest pace since June.

New export business also accelerated, while employment increased for a fifth consecutive month. Business confidence for the year ahead improved to a joint high for 2026.