China swings back to trade surplus in April Exports to the United States edged down by a fraction of 1pc to $28.1 billion while the trade gap with the U.S. narrowed by 13pc to $14.7 billion. Some analysts suggest Chinese trade data is distorted by reporting errors and unreliable as an economic indicator. "Suspicions remain about the quality of the data particularly on the export side with the import data on the other side from its Asian trading partners in particular not matching the apparent recovery," said CMC Markets' senior analyst Michael Hewson. However, April's stronger numbers might help to reassure companies and investors after an unexpected slow down in China's economic growth cast doubt over the strength of its recovery. Chinese GDP grew by an annualised 7.7pc in the first three months of this year, down from the previous quarter's 7.9pc growth. Analysts had hoped for 8pc growth. Mixed signals from the economic giant in recent weeks have suggested that recovery in the economic giant remains fragile. The official purchasing managers' index (PMI), a widely watched indicator of the health of the Chinese economy, slowed to 50.6 in April from 50.9 the month before. Industrial output, which is crucial to job creation, also slowed in the first quarter to 9.5pc, from 10pc in October-December. China's total trade grew just 6.2pc last year, well below the official target of about 10pc.