China's business climate index, a key gauge of corporate performance, remained high in the third quarter despite a decline following a series of government measures to cool the economy.

The index, based on a survey of 19,500 Chinese firms, was 144.7 points from July to September, 1.3 points lower than the April-June period, but eight points higher than a year earlier, said the National Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday.

The index, with the 100-point mark as the boundary between depression and prosperity, had tumbled to 116.6 points, its lowest level in recent years during the outbreak of SARS in 2003, but has since stayed above 130.

In the third quarter this year, the mining sector recorded the highest index at 160.1 points, despite a drop of 2.5 points from the previous quarter.

The information technology sector reported a record 160 points, followed by the wholesale and retail trade with a record 154.7 points.

The index for the property sector dipped 0.8 points from the previous quarter to 140.3 points, while the hotel and catering sector went down 1.2 points to 130.2 points.

The index for large enterprises was 167.4 points, much higher than the index for small companies, which stood at 120.8 points, and medium-sized firms at 131.1 points.

The index for China's eastern region was 148.7 points, down 1.5 points, while the central region was 141.6 points, down 1.9 points, and and the western region was 139.7 points, down 0.4 points.