Services growth hits 8-month low

A gauge of China's non-manufacturing industries declined to an eight-month low in September, indicating rising pressure for the government to introduce new stimulus methods to counter a property downturn.

The non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index dropped to 54 from 54.4 in August, the National Bureau of Statistics and China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said on Friday. Readings above 50 indicate expansion.

The reading suggests a property slump is dragging down the services sector, which had been among the better performing areas of the economy this year.