BEIJING (REUTERS) - China's official purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the non-manufacturing sector dipped to 54.6 in December from 56.0 the previous month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Friday, mirroring a slowdown in manufacturing activity growth.

A reading above 50 indicates activity in the sector is accelerating, while one below 50 indicates it is slowing.

The services sector survey followed the bureau's manufacturing PMI on Wednesday, which showed growth in China's factory activity slowed slightly in December, as well as a private PMI survey on Thursday that also showed slowing activity.

A separate PMI survey of the services industry by Markit Economics and HSBC will be released on Jan 6. That survey covers more smaller, private firms than the official PMI.