China's trade surplus 63% down

[tpsbmam]

Source: Guardian UK

China's oft criticised trade surplus fell dramatically last month in an unusually weak period for exports which nonetheless underlined a wider slowdown, official figures revealed yesterday.

Analysts predicted that the figures would rebound as the economy recovered from disruption caused by fierce winter blizzards and an early lunar new year, which shifted production patterns.

They acknowledged that the United States sub-prime crisis, the rise of the yuan and increasing costs of production were also taking their toll. The producer price index rose 6.6% last month - its fastest increase in over three years.

Exports to the US fell 5% in February to $16.4bn, while imports of American goods jumped 33% to $6.1bn.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/11/china.subprimecrisis/print

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I don't really see a rebound of exports to the US

There just isn't enough discretionary money left. People are spending their cash on food and fuel and that's about it. Besides, the scandals of tainted Chinese products has made consumers more wary of buying their products.

[robcon]

2. That's what a weak dollar will do.

It reduces U.S. buying power for importing, and makes U.S. exports cheaper for other countries.

[Ordr]

3. Maybe they should stop putting fucking lead in everything.

n/t

[jaksavage]

4. We are still spueing lead

as well as mercury and many other things into our environment.
Hard for me be one sided.

[Ordr]

6. Does that excuse them?

[redqueen]

5. I wonder how their rising inflation rates will affect this. (nt)