China's April data show retail sales up 0.2% (opens in new tab)

China’s economy slowed in April, with official data showing weaker-than-expected growth in consumption, industrial output and investment at the start of the second quarter. Retail sales rose 0.2% from a year earlier, down from 1.7% in March and below forecasts for about 2%, while industrial output increased 4.1%, slowing from 5.7% in March and missing forecasts for 5.9%. Fixed-asset investment unexpectedly contracted 1.6% in January-April after rising 1.7% in the first quarter, with property ...