China’s Economy Strains Under Disappointing Data

China’s economy showed more signs of strain Monday as the country published weak data for industrial output, investment and retail sales, amid a lingering trade war with the United States.

Industrial output grew by 4.4 percent year-on-year throughout August, falling to its lowest level in 17 years and down from 4.8 percent in July.

The figure was well below analyst expectations, with a Bloomberg survey of analysts predicting heartier growth of 5.2 percent.

“We must be aware that international instabilities and uncertainties are increasing significantly, and that at home economic structural issues are still prominent and the downward pressures on (the) economy are mounting,” said Fu Linghui, a spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics, which released the data.

Retail sales also slipped to post growth of 7.5 percent — 0.1 percent down on the previous month and a knock to Beijing’s aims to boost domestic consumption.

Watch: US Conducts Massive Strikes, Hits 80 Targets After Iran Attacks Ships in Strait, This as Trump Says Ceasefire Is Dead

DOJ Puts Election Officials in All 50 States on Notice: Prevent Noncitizen Voting or Else

Shipping through Strait of Hormuz declared dangerous with Iran ceasefire in jeopardy

Platner campaign putting ‘thumb on scale’ to influence possible replacement, Maine Dem alleges

Uncertain status of McConnell could create legal firestorm over possible replacement

Former acting DHS secretary warns Chinese criminal organizations are infiltrating America’s hemp industry

America 250 attendees rally behind Trump’s July 4 speech: ‘What we needed to hear’

This Texan led armed ‘community defense’ for leftists. Now he’s serving 100 years behind bars

Trump says Iran ceasefire is ‘over’ after Iranian attacks trigger massive US response

Tyler Robinson’s and Lance Twiggs’ DNA both allegedly found on key evidence in Charlie Kirk’s assassination

US Navy identifies sailor lost in Arabian Sea after helicopter’s emergency water landing

Noncitizen accused of falsely claiming US citizenship before casting federal ballots

Abbott orders probe after Texas hospital advertises ‘birth packages’ in Mexico: ‘Citizenship is not for sale’

Scott Jennings Gives Firsthand Update on Mitch McConnell Mystery

‘Trans’ House Democrat Says Trump’s 2024 ‘They/Them’ Ad Only Worked Because Dems Refused to Counter Message

Investment in fixed assets saw year-on-year growth of 5.5 percent in the first eight months of the year, 0.2 percent less than the first seven months, including a slight dip in crucial real estate investment.

All three sets of data fell short of analyst expectations, with Bloomberg predicting 7.9 percent growth in retail sales and 5.7 percent growth in investments.

China’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed to 6.2 percent in the second quarter of the year — the weakest pace in almost three decades.

“For China to maintain growth of 6.0 percent or more is very difficult against the current backdrop of a complicated international situation and a relatively high base, and this rate is at the forefront of the world’s leading economies,” Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was quoted as saying in an interview with Russian media which was published on the Chinese government’s website.

The People’s Bank of China said earlier this month that it would cut the amount of cash lenders must keep in reserve, in a bid to release more money into the stuttering economy.