Industrial output accelerated last month, helped by strong overseas demand and a government stimulus package.
Industrial output in the mainland rose 12 per cent year on year to 148.7 billion yuan (about HK$139 billion), despite a week-long holiday last month to celebrate the Lunar New Year, the China News Service reported, citing figures from the State Statistical Bureau.
If last month's extra leap year day was deducted, the output still rose 9 per cent, up from 8.9 per cent in January.
In the first two months, industrial output was up 10.4 per cent year on year to 313 billion yuan.
Last year, industrial output was up about 9 per cent year on year.
'The figures have pointed to an upward trend for this year,' Chu Siu-wah, a senior economist at GK Goh Securities said.
