China’s economy slowed markedly through the spring after a strong start this year, according to official data released on Monday, as a real estate crash caused consumers and companies to spend more cautiously.
In a country known for strict controls on the flow of information, the Chinese government is maintaining a particularly tight grip ahead of the party gathering, known as the Third Plenum, which typically takes place every five years.
China’s statistical bureau canceled its usual news conference that accompanies the release of economic data and Chinese companies are mostly avoiding the release of earnings reports this week.
China’s National Bureau of Statistics said that the economy grew 0.7 percent in the second quarter over the previous three months, a little below the expectations of most economists in the West.
When projected out for the entire year, the data indicates that China’s economy grew during the spring at an annual rate of about 2.8 percent — less than half its growth rate in the first three months of this year.
Organizations:
Communist Party, China’s National Bureau of Statistics
Locations:
Beijing