China's power generation rose 3.6 percent year on year last month, ending eight consecutive months of decline, the State Grid Corp of China said yesterday.

The increase was a strong rebound, compared with a 3.54-percent fall in May.

The country's total power generation reached 309.33 billion kilowatt-hours last month, according to the SGCC's power dispatch center.

Analysts from both the SGCC and the China Electricity Council said the strong rebound was "within expectations," as falls in previous months had been stabilized. The rebound was also in line with the improving economy. They said the rebound was partly a result of increased industrial activity, while high temperatures late last month also boosted electricity consumption.

It is the latest sign that the domestic economy is recovering. The Purchasing Managers' Index, released on Wednesday, rose to 53.2 last month, following a reading of 53.1 in May. It was the fourth consecutive month with a reading above 50, which suggests expansion.

Industrial output expanded 8.9 percent in May from a year earlier, the highest monthly growth rate since October. Last month's figure is expected to be announced mid this month.

Many north China's provinces have been hit by a heat wave since late last month, pushing up electricity use.