MNI BRIEF: China's Retail Sales Quicken To 4-Month High
China's retail sales quickened to a four-month high of 4.0% y/y over January-February, rising from December's 3.7% growth and meeting the 4.0% forecast, despite a higher comparison base for the same period last year, according to data released Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics, which typically combines results of the first two months to smooth out the Spring Festival impact.
Industrial production increased 5.9% y/y over the period, down from Dec’s 6.2% growth but outperforming the expected 5.3%.
Fixed-asset investment quickened to 4.1% y/y in Jan-Feb to hit the highest level since last May, higher than 2024's 3.2% read and the 3.5% consensus. Property investment fell by 9.8%, narrowing from the previous 10.6% decline. Infrastructure investment and manufacturing investment grew by 5.6% and 9.0%, compared with the previous 4.4% and 9.2%.