China’s retail sales fell short of expectations in November, increasing pressure on policymakers trying to restore confidence in the world’s second-largest economy.
Retail sales rose 3 percent, below both analyst forecasts of 4.6 percent and a 4.8 percent increase in October. Industrial production rose by 5.4 percent in November, slightly above expectations.
The data comes days after China held its annual Central Economic Work Conference, where party leaders called for “vigorous” efforts to boost consumption.
In the real estate sector, where the slowdown poses a major challenge for policymakers, new home prices continued to fall, albeit more slowly than in previous months. Real estate investment is down 10.4 percent so far this year.
