China's Industrial Profits Grow at Slowest Pace of the Year

Profits at China's industrial firms grew at the slowest rate this year, according to official figures reported by the Financial Times. The newspaper described an uneven rebound in which some manufacturers recovered while others continued to struggle.

The slowdown points to persistent weakness in demand inside China, where households and businesses have been cautious about spending. With sales at home soft, Chinese producers have relied more heavily on exports, a pattern that has strained trade relations with other economies absorbing the surplus.

The figures arrive as Beijing weighs how much further to support the economy and how to manage the tension between its large manufacturing capacity and thin domestic consumption.