Instant View: China output, investment, retail sales growth slows

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's factory output slowed more than expected in the first two months of 2012 to grow just 11.4 percent from a year ago as cooling demand at home and abroad dragged production growth to its weakest in over 2-1/2 years.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast industrial production growth of 12.3 percent in January and February.

Growth in fixed asset investment, which accounted for 54 percent of China's 2011 gross domestic product, slowed to 21.5 percent in the first two months , from 23.8 percent in December.

It was the lowest since the end of 2002 but still above the 20 percent forecast economists.

Retail sales missed market expectations to grow just 14.7 percent in January and February . Economists had expected growth of 17.5 percent.

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KEY POINTS:

- Jan-Feb industrial output up 11.4 pct on year (forecast up 12.3 pct; previous up 12.8 pct)

- Jan-Feb fixed asset investment up 21.5 pct on year (forecast up 20 pct; previous up 23.8 pct)

- Jan-Feb retail sales up 14.7 pct on year (forecast up 17.5 pct; previous up 18.1 pct)

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Instant View: China output, investment, retail sales growth slows