BEIJING -- Final consumption contributed 84.7 percent of China's economic growth in the first quarter, official data showed on Monday, suggesting government efforts to ease reliance on investments and trade are working.

Capital investments' contribution came in at 35.8 percent, while net exports of goods and services dragged growth down by 20.5 percent, according to an article in Monday's People's Daily and published on the website of the National Bureau of Statistics.

The consumption share marked a significant jump from the 66.4-percent ratio seen at the end of 2015.

Compared with investment and exports, consumption has been a less conspicuous growth driver for China in the past few decades, but Monday's data showed it is catching up fast, assuming a bigger role as other growth drivers are losing steam.

"Positive changes are accumulating, and the economy is operating within a reasonable range," the article said.

China's economy expanded 6.7 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2016, the slowest growth since the global financial crisis hit in early 2009. But a slew of upbeat economic data in March and April raised hopes for a stronger turnaround than expected.