DATA SNAP: China 3Q GDP Up 8.9% On Year; Expected Up 9.1%

BEIJING -- China's economy grew 8.9% in the third quarter from the same period last year, accelerating from the second quarter's 7.9% growth rate, government data showed Thursday.

The gross domestic product growth in the three months ended Sept. 30 was lower than the median 9.1% forecast of 12 economists surveyed earlier by Dow Jones Newswires.

The National Bureau of Statistics is holding a news conference that started at 0200 GMT on the data.