Twenty of 25 provinces and provincial-level cities reporting economic data experienced growth in the first half of the year, Bloomberg reported, citing local-government data. The news signals an upturn after 30 of 31 provinces previously reported first-quarter expansion below regional goals. “Both the national and provincial figures show a clear pickup, though the provincial ones more obviously so,” said economist Xu Gao, cautioning that provincial governments have incentives to inflate GDP figures. The regions are benefiting from central government investment as well as local government stimulus. Nationwide, the first-half and first-quarter growth numbers were both 7.4%, while expansion increased 0.1% in the second quarter.