by XIN Yuan

China's latest economic data pointed to uneven growth, with weakness in consumption and investment offset by continued strength in high-tech industries and services.

Industrial output rose 4.5% year-on-year in May, accelerating from April, while retail sales fell 0.6%. Fixed-asset investment declined 4.1% in the first five months of the year, according to data released Tuesday by the National Bureau of Statistics.

At the same time, high-tech manufacturing remained a bright spot. Output in the sector rose 15.1% from a year earlier in May, the fastest pace this year and well above overall industrial growth.

New growth drivers also showed resilience. Online services retail sales increased 7.6% year-on-year in January-May, outpacing broader retail growth. Investment in high-tech industries rose 4.5%, with computer and office equipment manufacturing investment up 18.3% and aerospace equipment manufacturing investment rising 16.7%.