China's economic growth rises to 7.5 percent, adding to signs of possible recovery

BEIJING – China's economic growth rate has risen slightly to 7.5 percent in the latest quarter in a sign Beijing's efforts to steer the country to a more sustainable path might be gaining traction.

The growth figure reported Wednesday was up from the previous quarter's 7.4 percent, which matched a mini-slump in late 2012 for the slowest rate since the 2008 global crisis.

Communist leaders are trying to steer China toward growth based on domestic consumption instead of trade and investment. But the abrupt slowdown raised fears of politically dangerous job losses.