Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

A woman frowns at a bus station while a government propaganda photo behind her is covered by apartment rental advertisements in Beijing, China, Friday, July 13, 2012. China's economic growth slowed to a new three-year low in the latest quarter as exports and consumer spending weakened. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan)

China's economic growth fell to a three-year low, and although analysts said a recovery may be in sight, it will probably be too weak to pull the world out of its slump.

The world's second-largest economy grew by 7.6 per cent over a year earlier in the three months ending in June, its slowest since early 2009 during the global crisis, data showed Friday.

Analysts pointed to strong bank lending as a sign of a possible recovery in the second half, but slower growth in retail sales and factory output left them uncertain how fast or how vigorously the economy will improve.

"The soft landing is still on track largely as expected, but the rebound may be slightly more drawn out," said Moody's Analytics economist Alaistair Chan in a report.

The latest data dampen hopes China can make up for weak demand from debt-crippled Europe and the United States, which is struggling with a sluggish recovery.

"It is not certain whether or not there will be a strong upward rebound. But at least the economic growth rate will stop coming down," said economist Xiao Li at Industrial Bank in Shanghai.

The impact of lower Chinese demand could fall hardest on Asian economies that supply industrial components to its vast manufacturing industry, as well as exporters of oil, iron ore and other commodities such as Australia and African nations. Chinese imports of steel, copper and oil have declined by volume over a year ago.

On Thursday, the Asian Development Bank cut its growth forecast for developing Asia to 6.6 per cent from April's outlook of 6.9 per cent. It cited Europe's financial crisis, the slow pace of U.S. recovery and lower growth in China and India.