(Yicai Global) July 17 -- China's investment in real estate development climbed 1.9 percent annually to CNY6.28 trillion in the first half, according to data the National Bureau of Statistics released today.

An Yicai Global survey of 27 chief economists at major Chinese financial institutions found they projected, on average, that first-half property investment grew 1.67 percent.

This figure is a notable improvement on that of the first five months when realty investment dropped 0.3 percent.

Editor: Ben Armour