BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s industrial output in September rose 6.9% from a year earlier, data showed on Monday, expanding for the sixth straight month in a boost to an economy recovering from the coronavirus shock. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected annual industrial output growth to have quickened to 5.8% in September from a 5.6% gain in August, as more businesses resumed production after measures to contain the spread of the virus were lifted. China’s retail sales edged up 3.3% last month from a year earlier, beating analysts’ forecast for 1.8% growth compared with 0.5% growth in August. Fixed asset investment increased 0.8% in the first nine months of the year from the same period in 2019, compared with a forecast 0.8% increase and a 0.3% decline in the first eight months of the year.