China GDP Slows to Weakest Since 2009 on Manufacturing Slide
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Bloomberg) Chinas economy slowed in December, capping the weakest quarter of growth since the 2009 global recession, as the Communist leadership struggles to manage a transition to consumer-led expansion.
Industrial production, retail sales and fixed-asset investment all slowed at the end of the year, while gross domestic product rose 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter from the same period of 2014. GDP increased 6.9 percent -- the least since 1990 -- for the full year, in line with the governments target of about 7 percent.
After a roller coaster year incorporating yuan devaluation, a record plunge in foreign exchange reserves, and an equity rout that at one stage wiped out $5 trillion in value, stocks have plunged anew in 2016. Global markets have been shaken by concerns as to whether policy makers can stem a slide in the traditional economic drivers of manufacturing and investment. ...........(more)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-19/china-s-gdp-misses-estimates-as-stimulus-struggles-for-traction