11 Aug 2012

China slowing

1:53 pm on 11 August 2012

China's export and import growth slowed in July for the second consecutive month.

Exports rose by 1% from a year earlier, down from 11.3% growth in June, amid slowing demand from key markets.

Meanwhile, imports rose by 4.7% compared with 6.3% in June, indicating that domestic demand was also slowing.

China reported on Thursday that growth in industrial output fell to a three-year low in July.

Industrial production rose by 9.2% during the month, from a year earlier, down from an increase of 9.5% in June.

At the same time, the BBC reports growth in retail sales during the month also fell short of forecasts.

Analysts said that the weak data had raised concerns that the economy may be slowing faster than previously thought.