China's August retail sales miss forecast as investment decline deepens

China's consumer spending and investment weakened in August, adding pressure on policymakers as the economy continues to slow. Retail sales rose 0.4% from a year earlier, below expectations and slower than July's pace, while urban fixedasset investment fell 7.2% in the first eight months of the year. Industrial output increased 5.2% in August, beating forecasts and accelerating from July, but the stronger factory data was not enough to offset softer demand at home. The unemployment rate edged up to 5.3%, with the statistics bureau citing seasonal factors and stillweak domestic demand. Officials said external conditions have become more challenging and called for stronger macroeconomic support and efforts to boost domestic demand. Beijing has added some targeted measures in recent weeks, but analysts say broader stimulus may be limited unless growth weakens further.