Economic growth set to continue into new year

The country's economic growth looks set to accelerate into the new year, with booming factory production driving figures of a December manufacturing survey to a 20-month high.

The survey, released on Friday, also showed the rapid pace of activity pushing up costs such as labor and raw materials to a 17-month high in the country, potentially complicating efforts of officials who want to maintain growth-friendly policies without driving inflation expectations.

The official purchasing managers' index (PMI), an indicator of economic activity, jumped to 56.6 in December from 55.2 in the previous month, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said on Friday.