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.

Exclusive: FBI captures longtime fugitive in Honduras in connection with 2000 killing of Philadelphia girl

Retail records could unmask potential subject in Nancy Guthrie case as experts reveal ‘clothing is evidence’

Trump Religious Liberty Commission boots member after contentious antisemitism hearing

Hardline conservatives double down to save the SAVE Act

Trump Keeps Winning: President Takes Victory Lap After Latest Job Numbers Shatter Expectations

Indicted Dem Rep. LaMonica McIver Suggests Acting ICE Director Is Doomed to Hell as Hearing Spirals Out of Control

ICE director refuses to resign under pressure from Eric Swalwell not to ‘side with killers’

Tillis rips ‘political lawfare’ and praises grand jury after Dems avoid charges in ‘illegal orders’ case

Trump Was Right: Bombshell FBI Affidavit Released, Lists 5 Jarring Irregularities in 2020 Georgia Vote Counts – Some Already ‘Substantiated’

Nancy Guthrie search stalls after authorities release detained suspect

Hypocrisy: Mainstream Media And NBA Stay Silent After Kevin Durant Tells Fan: ‘I Know Where You Live, White Boy’

Super Bowl Viewership Drops Year-Over-Year, Still Sets a Record

Olympic Medalist Makes Shocking Admission in Post-Event Interview: ‘Worst Week of My Life’

‘GOP’ House candidate admits she’s actually a progressive in viral video: ‘Telling people the truth’

Vance warns Iran that ‘another option on the table’ if nuclear deal not reached

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.