BEIJING, July 15 Reuters China39;s industrial output grew 3.9 in June from a year earlier, quickening from a 0.7 rise in May, official data showed on Friday, as activity began to recover from months of crippling COVID lockdowns.

The expansion was weaker than a 4.1 increase that analysts had forecast in a Reuters poll.

Retail sales rose 3.1 following the easing of COVID19 restrictions last month. Analysts had expected a 0 increase after May39;s 6.7 drop.

Fixed asset investment grew 6.1 in the first six months of the year from the same period a year earlier, versus a forecast 6.0 rise and down from a 6.2 jump in JanuaryMay.

While June data offered some signs of improvement for the world39;s secondlargest economy, analysts do not expect a rapid recovery as the government is sticking to its tough zeroCOVID policy. The country39;s property market is in a deep slump and global growth is faltering.

Reporting by Kevin Yao and Ellen Zhang; Editing by Tom Hogue

Source Reuters