Industrial output gains 9.2pc

Mainland industrial output in December rose 9.2 per cent year-on-year, down from 11.6 per cent growth in November, an official at the State Statistical Bureau says. Output value was 206.9 billion yuan (about HK$192.47 billion) for the month and 2.04 trillion yuan for the full year - a 10.9 per cent increase over the previous year. It said the output increase was driven by fast growth in production of electronics, computers and passenger cars and consumer goods such as food, beer and clothing. Output of consumer durables also grew, the bureau said, without giving a specific breakdown.