Read more from Author Ben Oakley here: https://globelivemedia.com/author/ben-oakley/
BEIJING, Jan 18 (Reuters) – China’s industrial production rose at a faster-than-expected pace, 7.3% in December from a year earlier, data showed on Monday, expanding for the ninth month in a row as the vast manufacturing sector, aided by strong exports, continues its recovery.
Analysts polled by Reuters had expected annual growth in industrial production to have slowed to 6.9% in December from 7.0% in November.
China’s retail sales rose 4.6% last month from a year earlier, below analysts’ forecast for 5.5% growth, and in contrast to the 5.0% growth in November.
Investment in fixed assets increased 2.9% in 2020, compared to an expected increase of 3.2% and growth of 2.5% in the first 11 months of the year. (Reporting by Gabriel Crossley and Colin Qian Edited in Spanish by Gabriela Donoso)