BEIJING, May 16 Reuters China39;s statistics bureau on Monday said it expects China39;s economy to improve in May and that a recovery in consumption would quicken.

China is steadily pushing forward production resumption in COVIDhit areas, said Fu Linghui, spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics, adding that China39;s economy would maintain a relatively sound trend in the second quarter.

Economic activity cooled sharply in April as widening COVID19 lockdowns took a heavy toll on consumption, industrial production and employment, adding to fears that the economy could shrink in the second quarter. 

Reporting by Kevin Yao; Editing by Tom Hogue

Source Reuters