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 hunts Michigan woman accused of stealing nearly $30M while posing as aircraft heiress

Jasmine Crockett uses Trump’s ‘Low IQ’ insults to launch her Texas Senate campaign in debut ad

Trump cabinet members do pull-ups at airport to launch $1B family travel program nationwide

Trump threatens 5% tariff on Mexico over water treaty violations affecting Texas farmers

Thune eyes possibility of ‘serious’ Obamacare talks once Democratic bill fails

Watch: Is This Is a Touchdown? ‘Clear As Mud’ Rules Trigger NFL Controversy

Top GOP senator says Crockett announcement exposes how ‘radical’ Dems are nationwide

Indiana redistricting bill clears committee in victory for Trump, heading to full Senate vote

Family sues Royal Caribbean after man allegedly served 33 drinks dies aboard cruise ship

DeSantis Drops the Hammer on Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR: ‘EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY’

Kelsey Grammer Defies All of Hollywood, Goes on Record with Glowing Review of Trump

Top Mamdani appointee faces heat amid promise to make NYC more affordable: ‘Embodiment of inflation’

Watch: Jasmine Crockett’s Utterly Bizarre Campaign Kickoff Video Is Nothing but Trump Insulting Her Non-Stop for 45 Seconds

Florida mom says teens ‘lured’ 14-year-old daughter into woods before shooting, setting her on fire: report

Trump complains he can’t ‘appoint anybody’ after Habba resigns as acting US attorney

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.