China's exports and imports return to growth in April as demand improves

China reported Thursday that its exports and imports returned to growth in April, suggesting that demand is improving despite an uneven economic recovery. Customs data showed that exports grew 1.5% in April compared to a year earlier after falling 7.5% in March, the first contraction since November. Imports surged 8.4% in April, beating analysts' expectations and up from a 1.9% decline in March. China has introduced a slew of policy support measures in recent months to support growth and boost confidence in the world's second-largest economy. China’s trade surplus grew to $72.35 billion, up from $58.55 billion in March.