Fewer regions post first-half expansion in double digits

The number of regions that delivered double-digit economic growth in the first half of this year plunged, and growth in some regions was dramatically below the year-earlier level, figures from provincial-level governments showed.

The local statistics offer a level of detail and insight into the economy that national figures do not provide.

Of the 27 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions that have released first-half GDP data so far, only five managed to expand at a double-digit pace. In 2013, 15 out of 31 mainland regions posted growth rates above 10 percent.