China’s factory output grew at the lowest pace in nearly six years in August while growth in retail sales and investment also cooled, adding to signs of fragility in the economy that may prod Beijing into fresh policy measures to prevent a sharper slowdown
Industrial output rose 6.9 percent in August from a year earlier - the lowest reading since December 2008 when the economy was buffeted by the global financial crisis, compared with expectations for an 8.8 percent expansion and slowing from 9.0 percent in July.
Retail sales climbed 11.9 percent, lagging forecasts of 12.1 percent and slowing from 12.2 percent in July, the National Bureau of Statistics said.
