World · 17 August 2026
Chinese economic growth slows down further as factory output and retail sales weaken
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The National Bureau of Statistics, China's data agency, blamed the poor July figures on extreme heat and heavy rain. Factory production grew by just 4.5% compared to last year, while retail spending increased by only 0.6% despite the summer holidays. It follows a highly disappointing period between April and June, where overall growth dropped to 4.3%, missing official government targets.
Reported by The Guardian · How we write briefs