BEIJING, Dec 27 Reuters China39;s November industrial profits posted doubledigit gains as overall manufacturing improved, although soft demand continued to constrain business growth expectations, emboldening calls for more macro policy support.

The 29.5 profit rise came on top of a 2.7 increase in October and alongside a pickup in industrial output in November, although other sectors of the world39;s secondlargest economy still missed forecasts.

In the first 11 months of 2023, industrial earnings shrank 4.4 from a year earlier, further narrowing from a 7.8 decline in January to October, National Bureau of Statistics NBS data showed on Wednesday.

Behind the November profit rise was an accelerated uptick in industrial profits and returns on investments over the month, NBS statistician Yu Weining said in an accompanying statement.

With a slew of progrowth measures in place to buttress a patchy postCOVID recovery, Asia39;s biggest economy is widely expected to achieve the government39;s growth target of around 5 for this year. Industrial profits extended gains for a fourth month.

The rise in both industrial output and earnings for November reflected the continued improvement in the manufacturing sector overall, said Zhou Maohua, an analyst at China Everbright Bank.

Macro policies to bail out industrial firms, a low statistical base last year and seasonality also contributed to the uptrend, he said.

Officials are confident about more favourable economic conditions in…