(Yicai Global) July 16 -- China's financial services sector grew 7.3 percent to nearly CNY3.8 trillion (USD551 billion) in the first half, outpacing the nation's economic expansion, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics today.

Other industries that beat out gross domestic product growth included information technology, rent and commercial services, transport, logistics and storage services. 

China's GDP grew 6.3 percent to almost CNY45.1 trillion (USD6.6 trillion) in the first half of this year, the NBS said yesterday.