China's National Bureau of Statistics on Friday reported third-quarter GDP growth of 4.6% year on year, slightly exceeding the 4.5% expected by economists polled by Reuters.
"The national economy showed positive signs of growth in September," Sheng Laiyun, the bureau's deputy commissioner, said at the press conference, according to CNBC's translation of the Chinese.
Other data also released on Friday, such as retail sales and industrial production, had also beat expectations, a hopeful sign for the world's second largest economy.
Beijing has faced growing public scrutiny over its ability to meet its own annual growth target of "around 5%."
Amid low consumer sentiment and a flagging property sector, the Chinese government has intensified stimulus measures in recent weeks in an effort to boost its lackluster economy.
Persons:
Sheng Laiyun, Tianchen Xu
Organizations:
National Bureau, Statistics, Reuters, Economist Intelligence Unit
Locations:
China, Beijing