Shandong's economy improved in August, with industrial production, investment, social consumption, and employment all showing stronger numbers, according to local authorities.

According to the Shandong Provincial Bureau of Statistics, the province's industrial production grew in the first eight months of this year, with the added value of industries above designated size growing 1.8 percent. In August, the growth rate was 9.9 percent, 4.3 percentage points higher than in July.

A container ship from South Korea docks at Qingdao Port, Shandong province. [Photo by Zhang Jingang/For China Daily]

Shandong's equipment industry showed strong growth momentum, rising 22.4 percent in August, 3.1 percentage points higher than the previous month. 

Its service sector continued to improve as well, with internet and related services, leasing, postal services, and warehousing up 25.7 percent, 26.6 percent, 19.9 percent, and 11 percent, respectively.

Investment in the "Four New Economies" (new technology, new business patterns, new development models, and new industry) grew by 17.5 percent, 14.9 percentage points higher than the overall investment growth rate.

Meanwhile, retail sales in Shandong rose 4.8 percent in August, 2.1 percentage points higher than the previous month. Online digital technology has boosted the development of new forms of consumption. In the first eight months, online retail sales increased 14.5 percent.

The province's imports and exports reached a value of 1,336.64 billion yuan ($195.95 billion) in the first eight months of this year, while its employment situation was "mostly stable", with 779,000 new urban jobs created in the first eight months.