 "China's factory output at 7-month low")
China's factory output growth hit a seven-month low in October while investment expansion slipped to its weakest pace since 2000, signs that further government policy support may be needed to shore up slowing demand in the world's second biggest economy.
The one bright spot in tepid October data released Wednesday was an improvement in retail sales, which appear to be keeping the growth rate of the world's second-largest economy from sliding.
Factory output grew slower-than-expected at an annual 5.6 per cent in October, the weakest in seven months, National Bureau of Statistics data showed.
That was below a Reuters forecast of 5.8 per cent and down on September's 5.7 per cent. Fixed asset investment rose 10.2 per cent in the first 10 months, in line with expectations but the weakest pace since 2000 and easing from a 10.3 per cent gain in the January-September period.
The cooling real estate sector remained a drag on investment, with property investment growth slowing to 2.0 per cent in January-October from 2.6 per cent in the first nine months.
Retail sales growth continued to pick up, expanding at an annual 11.0 per cent in October, compared with 10.9 per cent in September. Analysts had forecast 10.9 per cent growth in October.
Helping lift retail sales were buoyant vehicle purchases, which rose 11.8 per cent from a year earlier in October, the biggest on-year gain since December, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
The one bright spot in tepid October data released Wednesday was an improvement in retail sales, which appear to be keeping the growth rate of the world's second-largest economy from sliding.
Factory output grew slower-than-expected at an annual 5.6 per cent in October, the weakest in seven months, National Bureau of Statistics data showed.
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The cooling real estate sector remained a drag on investment, with property investment growth slowing to 2.0 per cent in January-October from 2.6 per cent in the first nine months.
Retail sales growth continued to pick up, expanding at an annual 11.0 per cent in October, compared with 10.9 per cent in September. Analysts had forecast 10.9 per cent growth in October.
Helping lift retail sales were buoyant vehicle purchases, which rose 11.8 per cent from a year earlier in October, the biggest on-year gain since December, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.