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China's economic growth surged in March, thereby relieving pressure for stimulus and fears that a sharp downturn would reduce worldwide growth, according to new data. Retail sales accelerated to 10.2%, led by auto sales, which rose 13.1%, and industrial production, a bellwether for the critical manufacturing sector, grew 6.3% annually, marking the fastest pace since August. Furthermore, Economist Intelligence Unit's Tom Rafferty notes that "the property market is proving surprisingly resilient as buyers step up purchases ahead of anticipated policy tightening, and this has acted to support the industrial sector and commodity prices." Expectations that China's central bank will cut interest rates before the end of 2016 now appears less likely, say economists.