Aug industrial output gains momentum

BEIJING - China's industrial production gained traction in August with its value-added output expanding at its fastest pace in 17 months, according to official data released Tuesday.

A National Bureau of Statistics statement said the country's total industrial value-added output grew by 10.4 percent year on year last month, up 0.7 percentage points over July and marking the fastest growth since April 2012.

Output in the first eight months surged 9.5 percent compared with a year earlier, and output increased 0.93 percent in August over July, the statement said.

The country's industrial value-added output measures the output of Chinese companies with annual revenues above 20 million yuan ($3.25 million).