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.

FTC alleges influential transgender health organization misled parents about safety of youth treatments

Handwritten Epstein Notes Found, Confirm He Wanted to Hurt Trump as Badly as Possible, Wasn’t Friend at All

Vance rejects claims Trump-Iran deal echoes Obama-era logic as hawks raise alarm

Trump sends Senate GOP reeling with intelligence chief chaos

Op-Ed: Informed Consent Is Lacking for Abortion

Alex Murdaugh’s lawyer vows to dismantle infamous kennel video as defense weighs another turn on the stand

Smiling suspect stands out as authorities release mugshots of 5 accused in alleged White House UFC attack plot

How World Cup tourists have fallen in love with America, and America has fallen in love with the tourists

How alleged White House UFC attack plotters organized across four states

Watch: Japanese Fans Accidentally Shame Certain Cultures Ruining Our Public Spaces, Go Viral for Unheard-of Behavior at Dallas Stadium

Subcontractors say they’re owed millions, face financial ruin, after helping build Obama Presidential Center

JD Vance Calls Infamous Campaign Comment ‘One of the Dumbest Things I Ever Said’ in New Book

Rhode Island judge faces misconduct complaint over attacks on DOJ lawyers

Republicans question Trump’s ‘privately funded’ ballroom after report points to taxpayer burden

WATCH: Unearthed video shows leftist Senate hopeful celebrating anti-fossil fuel group’s arrival in Texas

See also Trump arrives for UFC fight

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.