Equipment and high-tech manufacturing sectors stand out in latest economic report

Retail sales increased by 0.4 percent year-on-year in August, compared with 0.6 percent in July, the data showed.

Meanwhile, the decline in fixed-asset investment came in at 7.2 percent year-on-year in the first eight months, widening from 6.7 percent in the first seven months, according to the NBS.

The surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.3 percent in August, up from 5.2 percent in July, the data showed.

The economy continued its recovery in August, underpinned by stronger contributions from new growth drivers and continued structural improvements, the bureau said.

However, external headwinds intensified and the imbalance between strong supply and weak demand remained pronounced, the NBS said, calling for stronger macroeconomic policy support to expand domestic demand and promote industrial upgrading.