China's May industrial output rises 4.4% as economy struggles to recover

China's industrial output expanded 4.4 per cent in May from a year earlier but the gain was less than expected, official data showed on Monday, suggesting the economy is still struggling to get back on track after the coronavirus crisis.

Analysts polled by Reuters had expected growth to quicken slightly to 5.0 per cent from a year earlier as more businesses resumed production, following a rise of 3.9 per cent in April, the first expansion since the virus emerged from China late last year.

Retail sales fell 2.8 per cent on-year, more than a predicted 2.0 per cent decline, but