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.

Trump sends troops $1,776 bonus checks, and Biden coal, in Christmas speech to nation

Lethal US strike sinks narco-terrorist vessel along major Pacific drug route, Pentagon confirms

Border Patrol chief, progressive mayor caught on camera in tense street showdown: ‘Excellent day in Evanston’

Federal employees in the hot seat as GOP senator pushes transparency proposal: ‘Historic opportunity’

Dramatic bodycam video captures moment suspected kidnapper is arrested after 40 years on the run

Barack and Michelle Obama Had Plans with the Reiners on the Night of Their Death

Ford Pays a $19.5 Billion Price After Realizing it Fell for Biden’s EV Scam

Statue of Little-Known Civil Rights Activist Replaces Robert E. Lee in U.S. Capitol

Breaking: Bongino Stepping Down as Deputy Director of the FBI

Nearly two-thirds of American voters back social media ban for kids under 16, Fox News poll shows

Trump set to address the nation in primetime White House speech as Americans report economic squeeze

DOJ should not have dropped Trump codefendant charges: Jack Smith

Trump unveils disparaging ‘Presidential Walk of Fame’ plaques under Biden and Obama portraits

Newly Declassified Emails Show FBI Desperately Wanted to Avoid Mar-a-Lago Raid, Begged Biden’s DOJ for Other Options, But Was Denied

Former Texas coach allegedly used AI document to groom teen with manipulation tactics: report

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.