China Q2 GDP up 7.5 pct yr/yr, in line with expectations

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's annual economic growth slowed to 7.5 percent in the second quarter of 2013 from 7.7 percent - the second straight quarter of slower growth, official data showed on Monday.

The Q2 number, announced by the National Bureau of Statistics, was in line with market expectations in a Reuters poll.

Many investors were primed for a downside surprise versus the consensus, especially after dismal trade data published by the customs last week.

The world's second-largest economy grew 7.6 percent in the first six months of 2013 from a year earlier.

Other data released alongside GDP showed industrial output grew 8.9 percent in June from a year ago, versus expectations of 9.1 percent showed in the Reuters poll. Retail sales in June rose 13.3 percent on a year ago versus an expected 12.9 percent.

Fixed-asset investment grew 20.1 percent in the first half from a year earlier, versus an expected 20.2 percent.

(Reporting by China Economics Team)