The Chinese government has released the latest economic data for April for the industry, consumption, investment and real estate sectors. It shows value-added industrial output expanded 6 per cent year on year during last month, down from the almost 7 per cent increase in March. Retail sales of consumer goods grew just over 10 per cent, down slightly from the previous month.

Fixed asset investment grew just over 10 per cent in the first four months of the year, slower than the almost 11 per cent increase in the first three months. Property investment rose just over 7 per cent in the first four months of the year, a slight increase on the January to March period.