AsianFin -- China’s industrial production rose 6.1% year-on-year in April, easing from 7.7% growth in March, according to official data released Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Despite the deceleration, the figure beat expectations from a Reuters poll of 24 analysts, which had forecast a 5.5% increase.

Retail sales, a key indicator of consumer spending, climbed 5.1% in April, down from a 5.9% gain the previous month. Analysts had anticipated a slightly stronger 5.5% rise, pointing to continued weakness in domestic demand.

Meanwhile, fixed asset investment grew 4.0% in the January-to-April period compared to a year earlier, falling short of the projected 4.2% and marking a slowdown from the 4.2% expansion recorded in the first quarter.

The latest figures underscore a fragile recovery in China’s economy, as policymakers grapple with softening consumer sentiment, uneven industrial performance, and persistent challenges in the property and private sectors.