China’s industrial output grew 5.3 percent in the first two months of this year, the slowest pace of expansion in 17 years, official data showed on Thursday. But fixed-asset investment rose 6.1 percent, while retail sales rose 8.2 percent, both more than expected. Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted industrial output growth would slow to 5.5 percent in January-February from December’s 5.7 percent gain. Investment growth had been expected to edge up slightly to 6.0 percent, from 5.9 percent in 2018. Private-sector fixed-asset investment, which accounts for about 60 percent of overall investment in China, rose 7.5 ... (full story)