Five trends of China's economy in August

A technician operates a high-tech production line in Xuanhua, North China's Hebei province. [Photo by Chen Xiaodong/for China Daily]

Looking at growth in terms of industrial structure, high-tech industries continue to maintain rapid growth while growth in high energy-consuming manufacturing slowed down. In August, the value added from high-tech industries increased 12.9 percent year-on-year, 0.8 percentage point higher than the previous month, while the growth of high energy-consuming manufacturing was 2.9 percent, down 0.4 percentage point.

In terms of demand structure, the sales of upgraded consumer goods witnessed double digit growth. In August, the sales of sports and recreational articles increased 14.9 percent year-on-year and sales of communication products increased 12.2 percent year-on-year.

The investment structure optimized more markedly. In the first eight months, investment into high-tech sectors jumped 19.5 percent. Investment in the technological upgrading of the manufacturing sector increased 11.4 percent year-on-year, faster than last month's growth.

Investment in infrastructure and areas of weakness grew rapidly. From January to August, investment in infrastructure increased 19.8 percent year-on-year, and investment in areas of weakness such as eco-environmental protection, public utility and road transport industries all increased more than 20 percent.