China Jan-Feb industrial output up 15.4 pct yr/yr

China's annual industrial output growth slowed in January and February to 15.4 percent from 17.4 percent in December, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday.

The median forecast of economists polled by Reuters was for a rise of 16.8 percent.

The agency issued a joint figure for the two months to smooth out the effects of the Lunar New Year, which falls at different times each year.

Chinese industrial output (percent change on a year earlier):

Feb/Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr

15.4 17.4 17.3 17.9 18.9 17.5 18.0 19.4 18.1 17.4