Weak figures fuel policy easing bets

Industrial output growth drops to slowest pace since February 2009

China's economy fell to its lowest level of growth since the 2008 global financial crisis in the first two months of the year, and is still being hurt by weaker demand and excess industrial capacity.

The National Bureau of Statistics reported on Wednesday that industrial output growth year-on-year dropped to 6.8 percent in January and February, the slowest pace since February 2009, compared with 7.9 percent in December, the direct result of overall declines in factory production, fixed-asset investment and retail sales.