China Economy Slows, Inflation Looks Under Control
CHINA, CENTRAL BANKS, DEPOSIT, INTEREST RATES, INFLATION, ECONOMY, ASSET BUBBLES, GDP
Reuters
| 20 Oct 2010 | 10:58 PM ET
China's growth ebbed in the third quarter and inflation edged just a touch higher, showing that the economy was strong but far from overheating and suggesting that an interest rate rise this week may be enough for now.
Although the suite of data published on Thursday was broadly in line with forecasts, the numbers in fact constituted a downside surprise after recent market chatter that growth and inflation had been much stronger than expected, prompting the surprise rate increase.
"Chinese officials are likely feeling quite pleased with the way the data are playing out," said Brian Jackson, an economist with Royal Bank of Canada, in Hong Kong.
"Policy measures put in place earlier this year appear to have helped the Chinese economy through a middle course between overheating and a serious downturn."
Economic growth slowed to 9.6 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, down from 10.3 percent in the second quarter. Analysts had expected a 9.5 percent pace.
Inflation rose in September to 3.6 percent, reaching a 23-month high and smack in line with forecasts.
But industrial output -- a key indicator of growth momentum -- increased 13.3 percent year on year, missing forecasts of a 13.6 percent rise.
"The general fundamental picture explains China's decision to hike interest rate two days ago," said Dongming Xie, China economist at OCBC Bank in Singapore.
"September may not be the peak for consumer inflation based on our projection."
The Shanghai Composite Index turned positive after the release of the data. The Australian dollar , which is sensitive to Chinese demand, ticked up slightly, supported by the view that the economy was performing as expected.
China's increase of interest rates on Tuesday was an attempt to anchor inflationary expectations and cool asset markets, but it also reflected the government's growing confidence in the solidity of the economic recovery.
Because the rate rise — the first in nearly three years — was so unexpected, many in the market assumed that the GDP and inflation figures would surprise on the upside.
In this cycle of growth, it appears that the Chinese economy peaked in the first quarter, when it expanded 11.9 percent year on year.
Much of the slowdown can be explained by a higher base of comparison after last year's stunning rebound from the global financial crisis. It also is a desired outcome for the government, which has gradually normalized fiscal and monetary policy following the massive stimulus program that powered the recovery.