BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) -- China's business climate index, a main measurement of macro-economic outlook, rose by 10.3 points in the second quarter from the previous quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Thursday.

The quarterly business climate index climbed from 105.6 in the first quarter this year to 115.9, the NBS said. In the first quarter, the index slipped to 105.6 from 107 at the end of last year.

The index ranges from zero to 200. A reading above 100 shows economic expansion, while a reading below 100 indicates contraction. The survey began in 1998.

The index for the industrial sector rose from 99.8 in the first quarter this year to 112. The real estate sector index increased 18.7 points in the second quarter after falling for five straight quarters.

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