CHINA'S economy continued its steady upward trend in August, with the output of industrial enterprises above the designated size up by 4.5 percent year on year and retail sales rising by 2.1 percent year on year, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Saturday.

Liu Aihua, spokesman and chief economist of the NBS, told a press conference on Saturday that a range of economic indicators showed a steady expansion trajectory despite the impact of internal natural disasters and external uncertainties. She also highlighted the government's policy support and high-quality development strategy that provide the foundation for growth.