August was marked by extremely hot temperatures in parts of China, prompting temporary power rationing in some regions. Pictured here on Aug. 24, 2022, is the central city of Chongqing’s skyline with the lights partially turned off to conserve energy during the heatwave.
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images
BEIJING — China reported data Friday that showed a pickup in growth in August from the prior month. The data also came in above expectations across the board.
Retail sales grew by 5.4% in August from a year ago, topping a Reuters forecast for 3.5% growth. Catering sales rose by 8.4% in August from a year ago, while autos and food sales also grew significantly. That helped retail sales for the year through August grow by 0.5% from a year ago. Cosmetics and home furniture were among the few categories showing a sales decline in August from a year ago.
Online sales of physical goods rose by 12.8% in August from a year ago, faster…
