China's economy brightens, property sector still in doldrums

China’s economic landscape for the first two months of the year exhibited a mixed picture, with manufacturing and investment showing signs of improvement while the property sector continued to grapple with weaknesses, according to a statement from the National Bureau of Statistics released on Monday.

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Industrial output during January and February soared by 7% compared to the same period in the previous year, surpassing analysts’ expectations. Concurrently, fixed-asset investments, which encompass spending on factories and equipment, witnessed a notable increase of 4.2%.

However, amidst this positive trajectory, the real estate sector remained a cause for concern, with investment in real estate plunging by 9% during January-February year-on-year. This decline underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the property market, although officials remain optimistic about the sector’s future trajectory.