China's sputtering engine: August 2010

China's massive economic engine is slowing, but it's too early to know just how much.

|
SoldAtTheTop
Looking over the past decade, China's leading economic indicator (blue line) has rebounded from the massive slump of 2008, but it's falling again. Is this temporary or indicative of a longer trend?

Looking at the latest release of the OECD economic indicators for China, it appears that the massive jump in economic activity seen since the panicky period of late 2008 has drawn to a close.

China’s leading economic indicator has now declined for eight consecutive months with the latest August period showing a notable month-to-month decline of 0.21% bringing the latest level 0.69% below the level seen in August 2009.
Looking at past recessionary periods, it’s important to note that while China’s economy is clearly slowing, it will take some time to determine the severity.
We may be seeing the beginnings of an abrupt pullback of equal and opposite force to that of the government sponsored propping applied during 2009 or simply a slowing of a more durable overall recovery as was seen during the periods following the 1990s and early 2000s recessionary periods.

Add/view comments on this post.

------------------------------

The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of the best economy-related bloggers out there. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger, click here. To add or view a comment on a guest blog, please go to the blogger's own site by clicking on the link above.

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to China's sputtering engine: August 2010
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Paper-Economy/2010/1014/China-s-sputtering-engine-August-2010
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe