This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8001315.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| China's GDP growth falls to 6.1% | China's GDP growth falls to 6.1% |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| China's annual gross domestic product growth slowed in the first quarter of 2009 to 6.1%, the National Bureau of Statistics has announced. | China's annual gross domestic product growth slowed in the first quarter of 2009 to 6.1%, the National Bureau of Statistics has announced. |
| This is the weakest growth since quarterly records began in 1992. | This is the weakest growth since quarterly records began in 1992. |
| Growth was 6.8% in the last quarter of 2008 and economists had forecast about 6.3% amid the global collapse in trade. | Growth was 6.8% in the last quarter of 2008 and economists had forecast about 6.3% amid the global collapse in trade. |
| China's government has said it is determined to achieve annual growth of 8%, seen as necessary to maintain employment and forestall unrest. | China's government has said it is determined to achieve annual growth of 8%, seen as necessary to maintain employment and forestall unrest. |
| The continued fall in growth underlined the impact of the world economic slowdown on one of its largest economies, analysts said. | The continued fall in growth underlined the impact of the world economic slowdown on one of its largest economies, analysts said. |
| But other data offered by the government suggested recovery may already be under way. | |
| Staff from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said that export demand had dropped sharply, cutting into company profits, reducing government revenues and raising unemployment. | Staff from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said that export demand had dropped sharply, cutting into company profits, reducing government revenues and raising unemployment. |
| "The national economy is confronted with the pressure of a slowdown," an NBS statement said. | "The national economy is confronted with the pressure of a slowdown," an NBS statement said. |
| China experienced double-digit growth from 2003 to 2007, and recorded 9% growth in 2008. | China experienced double-digit growth from 2003 to 2007, and recorded 9% growth in 2008. |
| Analysts said the first-quarter drop in growth was in line with expectations. | Analysts said the first-quarter drop in growth was in line with expectations. |
| Recovery? | Recovery? |
| It has started to implement a 4 trillion yuan ($585bn, £390bn) stimulus package to counter the impact of the global slowdown, which has been seen as helping to spur lending in the first three months of the year. | It has started to implement a 4 trillion yuan ($585bn, £390bn) stimulus package to counter the impact of the global slowdown, which has been seen as helping to spur lending in the first three months of the year. |
| "The overall national economy showed positive changes, with better performance than expected," the NBS said. | "The overall national economy showed positive changes, with better performance than expected," the NBS said. |
| It said that urban per-capita incomes were up 11.2% from a year earlier in real terms and that rural per-capita incomes were up 8.6%. | It said that urban per-capita incomes were up 11.2% from a year earlier in real terms and that rural per-capita incomes were up 8.6%. |
| The consumer price index (CPI), China's main gauge of inflation, fell 0.6% in the first quarter of 2009 from a year earlier, according to the bureau. | The consumer price index (CPI), China's main gauge of inflation, fell 0.6% in the first quarter of 2009 from a year earlier, according to the bureau. |
| Industrial output expanded 5.1% in the first quarter, while in March it increased by 8.3%, the government said, after rising 12.9% in all of 2008. | Industrial output expanded 5.1% in the first quarter, while in March it increased by 8.3%, the government said, after rising 12.9% in all of 2008. |
| Analysts said they could see signs that the government's stimulus measures were working. | Analysts said they could see signs that the government's stimulus measures were working. |
| This boded well for hopes of recovery, they said. | This boded well for hopes of recovery, they said. |