China's August data likely to show economy improving

Supportive policies: Customers shop for clothes at a stall inside a wholesale market in Beijing. China’s retail sales are expected to show year-on-year growth for August. — Reuters

Beijing: China’s economic activity likely improved in August, adding to a steady drip of clues that suggest the worst of this year’s downturn may be starting to pass.

The peak summer holiday season drove a boom in spending on travel and hotels, keeping one of the few bright spots for the economy humming.