India, Aug. 15 -- China's industrial production and retail sales registered weaker-than-expected growth in July, strengthening calls for further policy support to rebalance the economy towards consumption.
Industrial production grew 5.7 percent in July from a year ago, following June's 6.8 percent increase, the National Bureau of Statistics reported Friday. Output was forecast to climb 5.9 percent.
Likewise, retail sales growth eased more-than-expected to 3.7 percent from 4.8 percent in June. Economists were expecting a 4.6 percent increase. During January to July period, fixed asset investment increased 1.6 percent from the last year, weaker than the 2.8 percent rise in the first six months. This was also slower than the forecast of 2.7 ...