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.

Manchin rips Cornyn for filibuster flip as Texas GOP runoff looms

Schumer swings at Hegseth over king crab meals for the troops, but Biden-era receipts show similar tab

Trump’s evolving stance on Iran ‘unconditional surrender’

BREAKING: Man Intentionally Rams Vehicle Into Michigan Synagogue and Opens Fire

Watch: Scott Jennings Calls on Internet to Fact-Check His CNN Colleague’s Insane Claim About Pete Hegseth

FBI responds to attack on Temple Israel synagogue in Michigan

Trump-backed affordable housing overhaul clears Senate, while House GOP raises red flags

Clyburn, 85, bucks Democrat generational revolt with bid for 18th term in Congress

New Bill to Ban Abortion Pill Hits Senate

House Democrats ask ICE for contracts on 2,500 marked vehicles overbought under Noem

Missing retired Air Force general consulted on UFOs for Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge

Piers Morgan Asks Former MSNBC Host Mehdi Hasan 7 Times if He’s Glad Khamenei’s Reign Is Over, Gets No Answer

US destroys aging Iranian warplanes, video shows

Powell’s behind-the-scenes move after Trump’s DOJ opened its criminal probe

Texas death row inmate uses final statement before execution to speak directly to victims’ family

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.