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Phoenix666 [soylentnews.org] writes:

China’s economic conditions deteriorated across the board in the fourth quarter [bloomberg.com], according to a private survey from a New York-based research group that contrasted with recent official indicators that signaled some stabilization in the country’s slowdown.

National sales revenue, volumes, output, prices, profits, hiring, borrowing, and capital expenditure were all weaker than the prior three months, according to the fourth-quarter China Beige Book, published by CBB International. The indicator is modeled on the survey compiled by the Federal Reserve on the U.S. economy, and was first published in 2012.

The world’s second-largest economy lacks the kind of comprehensive data available on developed nations, making it harder for investors to get a clear read -- particularly as China transitions from reliance on manufacturing and investment toward services and consumption. Official data [bloomberg.com] on industrial production, retail sales and fixed-asset investment all exceeded forecasts for November, while consumer inflation perked up and a slide in imports moderated.

What they need is a good war to take people's minds off their troubles.

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