BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) -- China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.3 percent year on year in the first half of 2025, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Tuesday.

China's GDP reached around 66.05 trillion yuan (about 9.24 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first half, NBS data showed.

In the second quarter, the country's GDP expanded 5.2 percent year on year, according to the NBS.

The tertiary industry expanded 5.5 percent year on year in the first half, outpacing a 3.7 percent increase in the primary industry and a 5.3 percent increase in the second industry.

On a quarterly basis, China's economy expanded 1.1 percent in the second quarter, according to the NBS.

Since the beginning of the year, China has accelerated the implementation of a more proactive macroeconomic policy. The economy has made steady progress despite pressures, with significant economic indicators performing better than expected, said Sheng Laiyun, deputy head of the bureau, at a press conference on Tuesday.

In the first six months of this year, China's industrial output increased by 6.4 percent compared to the same period last year, with equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing sectors posting rapid growth.

The consumer market maintained an upward trend during the period, with retail sales of consumer goods expanding 5 percent year on year in the first half. The pace is 0.4 percentage points faster than the growth recorded in the first quarter.

Fixed-asset investment continued to grow during the first six months, marking a 2.8 percent year-on-year increase. In particular, investment in the manufacturing sector saw notable growth.

The job market remained generally stable, with the surveyed urban unemployment rate averaging 5.2 percent in the first half, a 0.1 percentage point decrease from the first quarter.

The country's per capita disposable income reached 21,840 yuan during the January-June period, marking a 5.3 percent year-on-year increase in nominal terms, or 5.4 percent after deducting price factors, according to the NBS.

Commenting on the economic performance in the first half, Sheng described it as "highly valuable," marked by continued progress and a positive trend built on overall stability.

"This is a hard-won achievement, especially given the sharp changes in the international environment and increased external pressures since the second quarter," Sheng added. Enditem