Growth in China’s factory output eased in October while that for retail sales edged up and investment inched lower, indicating persistent downward pressures on the economy that may require further policy support. Factory output grew slower than expected at an annual 5.6 percent in October, National Bureau of Statistics data showed on Wednesday, missing a Reuters forecast of 5.8 percent and down from 5.7 percent in September. Fixed asset investment rose 10.2 percent in the first 10 months, slightly slowing from a 10.3 percent gain in the January-September period. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a 10.2 percent rise. Retail sales growth continued to pick up, expanding at 11.0 percent in October, compared with 10.9 percent in September. Analysts had forecast growth of 10.9 percent in October. “In general, the […]