BEIJING – Factory output rose in April as China’s virus-battered economy reopened but job losses depressed consumer spending, a key driver of growth, challenging the ruling Communist Party's push to revive normal activity.
Investment in factories and other fixed assets also improved as businesses reopened after China’s deepest economic slump since at least the 1960s, official data showed Friday.
China, where the pandemic began in December, was the first economy to shut down to fight the virus and the first to start reopening in March.
Automakers and some other manufacturers say production is back to normal, but retailing and other industries are struggling.