China industrial growth rises August

China’s manufacturing industry showed signs of stronger growth in August, giving the government more room to intensify reform, The Wall Street Journal reported. Industrial output in August climbed 10.4% year-to-year, up from 9.7% in July and the highest growth rate since March 2012. Meanwhile, total social financing, a broad measure of new credit in the economy, came in at US$259.4 billion, up sharply from July’s US$49.4 billion. August data showed an improving trend, and that the focus of policy would be on measures to support long-term growth, Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday at World Economic Forum in Dalian.