<p>China's economy grew 4.0 per cent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, faster than expected but its weakest expansion in one-and-half years, National Bureau of Statistics data showed on Monday.</p>.<p>Gross domestic product (GDP) had been forecast to expand 3.6 per cent from a year earlier, according to a Reuters poll of analysts, slowing from 4.9 per cent in the third quarter.</p>.<p>GDP grew 8.1 per cent in 2021, the data showed, faster than 8.0 per cent expected by analysts.</p>.<p>On a quarter-on-quarter basis, GDP rose 1.6 per cent in October-December, compared with expectations for a 1.1 per cent rise and a revised 0.7 per cent gain in the previous quarter.</p>.<p>China's economy got off to a strong start in 2021 as activity rebounded from a pandemic-induced slump the previous year, but it has lost steam due to a property downturn, debt curbs and strict COVID-19 curbs which have hit consumption.</p>.<p>Chinese leaders have pledged more support for the economy, which is facing multiple headwinds into 2022.</p>.<p>China's industrial output grew 4.3 per cent in December from a year earlier, picking up from a 3.8 per cent increase in November, official data showed.</p>.<p>The figure beat expectations of a 3.6 per cent increase in a Reuters poll of analysts.</p>.<p>However, retail sales in December missed expectations with only a 1.7 per cent increase from a year earlier, the slowest pace since August 2020. Analysts in the poll had expected them to grow 3.7 per cent after rising 3.9 per cent in November.</p>.<p>Fixed asset investment rose 4.9 per cent in 2021, compared with the 4.8 per cent increase tipped by a Reuters poll and 5.2 per cent in the first 11 months of the year.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos</strong></p>
<p>China's economy grew 4.0 per cent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, faster than expected but its weakest expansion in one-and-half years, National Bureau of Statistics data showed on Monday.</p>.<p>Gross domestic product (GDP) had been forecast to expand 3.6 per cent from a year earlier, according to a Reuters poll of analysts, slowing from 4.9 per cent in the third quarter.</p>.<p>GDP grew 8.1 per cent in 2021, the data showed, faster than 8.0 per cent expected by analysts.</p>.<p>On a quarter-on-quarter basis, GDP rose 1.6 per cent in October-December, compared with expectations for a 1.1 per cent rise and a revised 0.7 per cent gain in the previous quarter.</p>.<p>China's economy got off to a strong start in 2021 as activity rebounded from a pandemic-induced slump the previous year, but it has lost steam due to a property downturn, debt curbs and strict COVID-19 curbs which have hit consumption.</p>.<p>Chinese leaders have pledged more support for the economy, which is facing multiple headwinds into 2022.</p>.<p>China's industrial output grew 4.3 per cent in December from a year earlier, picking up from a 3.8 per cent increase in November, official data showed.</p>.<p>The figure beat expectations of a 3.6 per cent increase in a Reuters poll of analysts.</p>.<p>However, retail sales in December missed expectations with only a 1.7 per cent increase from a year earlier, the slowest pace since August 2020. Analysts in the poll had expected them to grow 3.7 per cent after rising 3.9 per cent in November.</p>.<p>Fixed asset investment rose 4.9 per cent in 2021, compared with the 4.8 per cent increase tipped by a Reuters poll and 5.2 per cent in the first 11 months of the year.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos</strong></p>