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.

FBI asked ‘Sammy the Bull’ if ex-Gambino mob prosecutor Comey knew meaning of ’86’: court filing

The Will of 100: Trump’s SAVE America Act sidelined after Senate unanimously agreed to August exit

New Reagan Movie Hits Theaters, Earns Big Thumbs Up from Audiences

Watch: Emotional Kurt Busch Reveals His Final Words with His Brother Kyle

USPS publishes rule to block mail-in ballots from states that don’t provide voter lists

Karmelo Anthony’s Legal Team Smears Austin Metcalf in Desperate Attempt to Overturn Conviction

Teacher who battled union fears she’s being targeted after shirt complaint: ‘I’m afraid’

Tupac Shakur murder trial’s first week sees heated testimony from reluctant witnesses with old gangland ties

America Has A Man Problem: When They Leave The Workforce, We All Pay The Price

WATCH: Father of three outraged over advice his family received amid trans teacher fight

Charles Manson’s granddaughter reveals moment she discovered dark family secret: ‘It was devastating’

Dem Senate hopeful racked up hundreds of missed votes during stops at multiple taxpayer serving jobs

New York Times Ordered to Pay College Basketball Player $9.25 Million for Defamation

College Costs Surge 10% Higher Than Last Year, New Report Shows

A Bayh-gone era for Indiana Democrats?

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.