China: Investment growth hits a nearly one-year high in January–March
Urban fixed asset investment expanded 6.3% year-to-date in the first three months of the year, slightly above the 6.1% increase in January–February and the highest reading since May 2018. Moreover, the figure was in line with market expectations.
The result reflected a robust expansion in the tertiary sector, while dynamics in the primary and secondary sectors moderated in the same period. Moreover, property investment growth hit an over four-year high, suggesting that policy stimulus is gradually kicking in.
In terms of ownership, investment growth in fixed assets of state-owned enterprises accelerated, while that of private companies lost steam.
On a month-on-month basis, investment in urban fixed assets rose a seasonally-adjusted 0.45% in March, which was marginally up than the 0.42% expansion in February.