China’s economy slows further in May

Shaky recovery: People walk along a street in Beijing.The labour market in China remained weak amid broad-based economic fragility. — AFP

BEIJING: China’s economy stumbled in May with industrial output and retail sales growth both missing forecasts, adding to expectations that Beijing will have to quickly ramp up stimulus to shore up a shaky pandemic recovery.

A first-quarter economic rebound has lost momentum in the second quarter, prompting China’s central bank this week to cut some key interest rates, with expectations of more to come.