China’s official PMI or the purchasing managers’ index rose for the month of June to 53.2 from 53.1 last month. The rise holds out hopes for Chinese officials that their economy is faring better than most in the aftermath of the worst global recession since the Second World War.

The 0.1 rise in PMI for June was reported by China’s Federation of Logistics and Purchasing on Wednesday. The country’s PMI has been above the 50-mark for the fourth straight month in June but is still lower than the 53.5 peak the index touched in April this year. The significance of the PMI lies in the fact that a reading above the 50-mark indicates growth in manufacturing sector while a reading below the level is a sign that manufacturing growth rate has come down.

Chinese economists believe that June’s PMI is a sign of the economy shaking off the worst effects of the recession. Zhang Liqun, who works with the Development Research Center of the State Council, is of the opinion that the rise in PMI is a confirmation of the recovery of the Chinese economy for the first time in the last five months.