GDP growth may drive up prices and cut trade surplus (2)

The bureau plans to release the GDP growth rate for the past three months and the whole of 2012 on Friday.

Underpinned by accommodative monetary and fiscal policies, China's GDP growth is likely to rebound to 8 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2012, up from the 14-quarter low of 7.4 percent seen during the July-to-September period, said Wendy Chen, an economist with Nomura International (HK) Ltd.

This rebound is supported by a modest improvement in exports and inventory destocking is coming to an end, according to Chen.

Nomura predicted the industrial output growth rate may climb to 10.6 percent in December from 10.1 percent in November. Fixed-asset investment is likely to rise to 20.8 percent year-on-year in December compared with November's 20.7 percent.

In addition, retail sales may have increased by 15.6 percent in December, up from November's 14.9 percent, the Japanese securities company said.