BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s fourth quarter growth was 4.0%, up from a year ago, which is faster than anticipated, but still the weakest in over a decade, according to data released Monday by National Bureau of Statistics.

According to a Reuters poll, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), was expected to increase by 3.6% compared to a year ago, slowing down from 4.9% during the third quarter.

According to data, GDP rose 8.1% between 2021 and 2021. This was more than the 8.0% predicted by analysts.

Quart-on-quarter GDP rose 1.6% to October-December, which was 1.1% higher than the 1.1% expected rise, and 0.7% more than what had been reported in previous quarters.

China’s economy started strong in 2021 after activity recovered from a slump caused by the pandemic. But it is now struggling due to property decline, debt curbs, and strict COVID-19 curbs. These have had a negative impact on consumption.

Chinese leaders pledged greater support to the economy, facing many headwinds through 2022.

China’s industrial output increased 4.3% in December compared with a year before, up from 3.8% growth in November. Official data indicated.

According to a Reuters survey of analysts, the figure exceeded expectations by 3.6%.

Retail sales fell short of expectations in December, with a 0.7% decrease from the previous year, which was the lowest pace since August 2020. The poll showed that analysts expected retail sales to rise 3.7%, after they had risen 3.9% in November.

Investment in fixed assets rose 4.9% to 2021, compared to the 4.8% rise predicted by a Reuters poll. It also increased 5.2% during the first eleven months of 2019.