Best figures in 16 months suggest overall economic situation improving

China's manufacturing industry picked up in August to its highest level since May 2012, suggesting a steady improvement of the overall economic condition, official statistics showed on Sunday.

The manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index, which reflects factory production activities, jumped to 51 in August from 50.3 in July, indicating the fastest expansion of the industry in 16 months, according to the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.