NBS

The NBS said authorities should "focus on expanding domestic demand and inspiring businesses," in a nod to factories' trade challenges.

State-owned firms posted a 9.9% decline in earnings in the first 10 months, foreign firms recorded a 10.2% slide and private-sector companies saw profits down 1.9%, according to a breakdown of the NBS data.

For existing home, NBS data showed 67 cities posted month-on-month price declines in October, up from 65 in September.

The nationwide survey-based jobless rate stayed at 5.0% in October, unchanged from September, the NBS data showed.

Industrial profits recovered quarter by quarter and swung to a 7.7% growth in the July-September period from declines over the previous two quarters, NBS statistician Yu Weining said in an accompanying statement.