BEIJING (Reuters), – China’s statistics bureau said on Monday it anticipates that China’s economy will grow in May, and that a rise in consumption will be quickened.

China continues to push forward production resumption within COVID-hit regions, Fu Linghui said, speaking for the National Bureau of Statistics. He also stated that China’s economy will continue its relatively solid trend into the second quarter.

In April, economic activity declined sharply due to widening COVID-19 lockdowns. This had a severe impact on industrial production, consumption and employment. There were also fears of a second quarter recession.