BEIJING – China’s economic growth accelerated to 4.9% over a year earlier in the latest quarter as a shaky recovery from the coronavirus pandemic gathered strength.Figures announced Monday for the three months ending in September were in line with expectations after the ruling Communist Party declared the outbreak under control in March and began reopening factories, shops and offices.Factory output rose, boosted by foreign demand for Chinese-made masks and other medical supplies.
Retail sales, which had lagged behind the manufacturing rebound, finally returned to pre-virus levels.The economy “continued the steady recovery,” the National Bureau of Statistics said in a report.