BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s July industrial output rose 4.8% from a year earlier, data showed on Friday, expanding for the fourth straight month but growth was less than expected as the economy gradually recovers from coronavirus-related lockdowns.

Analysts polled by Reuters had expected growth to quicken to 5.1% year-on-year from a 4.8% gain in June as more businesses resumed production after lockdowns put in place to contain the coronavirus.

Retail sales dropped 1.1% on-year, worse than a predicted 0.1% expansion and compared with a 1.8% drop in June.

Sales fell for seventh straight months in signs of sluggish consumer demand, although strict nationwide containment measures have been relaxed.

Fixed asset investment slipped 1.6% in the first seven months of the year from the same period last year, in line with expectations and recovering from a 3.1 % decline in the first half of the year.

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