(Yicai Global) July 17 -- China's industrial production grew slightly more than expected at 4.8 percent in June from a year ago as the country recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, according to official data.

An Yicai Global survey of 27 chief economists at major Chinese financial institutions had predicted that the figure would rise 4.69 percent. In May, the number, offered by the National Bureau of Statistics, climbed 4.4 percent.

But the effect of the virus was showing in data for the first half as industrial output had shrunk 1.3 percent over the six months from a year ago.

Editor: Emmi Laine