Early China Data Show Diverging Views, Stable Growth Outlook
- Gauges show manufacturing and smaller businesses strengthened
- Picture is slightly dimmer for sales managers and steel sector
Pedestrians walk past a statue of Mao Zedong displayed in front of the Baotou Victory Shopping Mall in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China, on Friday, Aug. 11, 2017. China's economy showed further signs of entering a second-half slowdown, as curbs on property, excess borrowing and industrial overcapacity began to bite.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/BloombergThe earliest gauges of how China’s economy has fared this month show diverging sentiment among businesses, though the outlook is underpinned by expectations that the expansion will remain broadly steady.
Manufacturing activity tracked by satellites strengthened and confidence at smaller companies improved, according to private indicators for August. The outlook wasn’t as strong in gauges of sales managers and steel mills, which show conditions moderated.