China reports 6.8 percent GDP growth in first half of 2018

China's GDP in the first half of this year (H1) saw a 6.8 percent year-on-year growth to about 41.9 trillion yuan (6.27 trillion US dollars), according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday.

"Generally speaking, the national economy in H1 maintained the momentum of steady and sound development with increased favorable conditions to support the economy towards high-quality development," said NBS spokesman Mao Shengyong.

China's economy is stable with an upgraded industrial structure, growing innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as wider use of green energy, amid increasingly complicated domestic and overseas situation, Mao told CGTN.

In the second quarter, the country's GDP rose 6.7 percent year-on-year, slightly lower from 6.8 percent in the first quarter, NBS data showed.

Retail sales up 9.4%

China's retail sales of consumer goods expanded 9.4 percent year-on-year to reach 18 trillion yuan, with final consumption expenditure contributing to 78.5 percent of China's GDP, according to NBS data.

Retail sales in rural areas went up 10.5 percent, continuing to outpace the 9.2-percent growth in urban regions.

The catering sector registered 9.9 percent year-on-year rise in revenue, and online spending saw 30.1 percent surge to 4.1 trillion yuan in H1.

Retail sales grew 9 percent year-on-year in June, rising from 8.5 percent year-on-year in May. Meanwhile, retail sales recorded 9.8 percent growth in the first quarter.

Industrial output up 6.7%

As an important economic indicator, China's value-added industrial output expanded 6.7 percent year-on-year in H1, 0.2 percentage points lower than that recorded from January to May, NBS data showed.

Industrial output is used to measure the activity of certain large enterprises with annual revenue of at least 20 million yuan. Industrial output of state-holding enterprises and share-holding firms was up 6.1 percent in June, and that of foreign-funded enterprises increased 5.4 percent.

Steady employment in June

China's job market remained stable in June with the unemployment rate in urban areas at a relatively low level of 4.8 percent, unchanged from the level in May and down 0.1 percentage point from June last year, NBS data showed.

Starting from April this year, the NBS has regularly released the monthly unemployment rate in urban areas to help the government improve macro-control and provide information for formulating employment policies.

Fixed-asset investment up 6%

China's fixed-asset investment expanded six percent in H1 compared to the same period of last year, NBS data showed. Total fixed-asset investment stood at about 29.7 trillion yuan (4.44 trillion US dollars).

Income up 6.6%

The country's per capita disposable income increased 6.6 percent year-on-year in real terms to 14,063 yuan (about 2,107 US dollars) in H1, NBS data showed.

Property development investment up 9.7%

The country's investment in property development increased 9.7 percent year-on-year in H1, slightly slower than 10.2 percent recorded in the first five months, according to NBS data.