China's export growth accelerates in July while imports sag in sign of economic weakness

China's export growth accelerated in July but imports sagged in a possible sign of weakness in the world's second-largest economy.

Data on Friday showed exports jumped 14.1 percent over a year earlier, almost double June's 7.2 percent growth. Imports fell 2.1 percent, down from the previous month's 5.5 percent growth.

The stronger exports are a positive sign for Chinese leaders, who are counting on trade to help generate jobs while they try to nurture growth based on domestic consumption.

China's economic growth edged up to 7.5 percent over a year earlier in the latest quarter from 7.4 percent the previous quarter, due largely to government mini-stimulus measures.