Zhiwei Zhang News

BEIJING — China's Minister of Finance Lan Fo'an told reporters Saturday during a highly anticipated press briefing that the central government has room to increase debt and the deficit.

Authorities have looked in recent months to revive confidence in the Chinese economy, grappling with a prolonged property sector crisis and now under increasing pressure from fresh trade tensions with the United States. The Purchasing Managers' Index — a key measure of industrial output — came in at 50.5 in March, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), above the 50-point mark that separates growth and contraction. The reading for March was up from February's 50.2, and the highest in twelve months. Manufacturing was boosted by workers' return to work after the traditional Spring Festival travel period in February and the fact that «enterprises' production and operating activities accelerated,» NBS statistician Zhao Qinghe said in a statement.

China’s export growth unexpectedly slowed in September, curbing a trade rebound that has been a bright spot for a weakening economy that policymakers are relying on manufacturing to power. Exports climbed just 2.4% in dollar terms from a year earlier to almost $304 billion, the lowest level since May, the customs administration said Monday. Shipments to key markets including Japan, South Korea and Taiwan all fell, while exports to the European Union and the US marked their slowest rise in at least four months as politicians ramped up tariffs. Russian purchases of Chinese goods soared to a record $11 billion, as Beijing continues to shield Moscow from economic isolation after Western companies producing everything from cars to phones quit President Vladimir Putin’s nation due to sanctions to punish his military aggression.

BEIJING — China aims to stop the property slump, top leaders said Thursday in a readout of a high-level meeting published by state media.

BEIJING — China on Monday reported its consumer price index rose by 0.6% year on year in August, missing expectations as transportation and home goods prices, as well as rents declined.

By Ryan Woo and Liangping Gao

At a journalism clinic I hosted in Asia some years back, one of my pleas was “don’t throw the entire kitchen sink at the story”.

BEIJING — China has yet to see a strong rebound in consumer spending, according to major companies.

BEIJING — China's economic recovery is off to a modest start.

BEIJING — China's consumer price index hit a two-year high in July as pork prices rebounded, according to official data released Wednesday.

China's central bank unexpectedly cut loan rates on Monday — a move that will likely put more downward pressure on the Chinese currency, one analyst said.

BEIJING — China's exports grew slightly more than expected in December, while imports rose less than expected, according to customs data released Friday.