China’s economy accelerates as virus recovery gains strength

People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo. Shares advanced in Asia on Monday after China reported its economy grew at a 4.9% annual pace in the last quarter (Koji Sasahara/AP)

China’s economic growth accelerated to 4.9% over a year earlier in the latest quarter as a shaky recovery from the coronavirus pandemic gathered strength.

Factory output rose, boosted by global demand for masks and other medical supplies, while retail spending returned to pre-virus levels for the first time, government data showed on Monday.