BEIJING China's industrial output grew 4.4% in June from a year earlier, unexpectedly accelerating from 3.5% seen in May, but demand remains lukewarm amid a bumpy post-COVID economic recovery.

The data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday came above expectations for a 2.7% increase in a Reuters poll of analysts.

Retail sales grew 3.1% in June, slowing from a 12.7% jump in May. Analysts had expected growth of 3.2%.

Fixed asset investment expanded 3.8% in the first six months of 2023 from the same period a year earlier, versus expectations for a 3.5% rise. It grew 4.0% in the January-May period.

China's post-pandemic economic recovery has slowed sharply after a brisk start in the first quarter, with the central bank pledging more support to boost activity and consumer and business confidence.

(Reporting by Joe Cash, Ella Cao and Ellen Zhang. Editing by Sam Holmes)