China Economy Shows Muted Improvement During Holiday Period

  • Aggregate indicator rises to 4 after December drop on Covid
  • Car sales and home sales fall though, exports remain a concern

Shoppers in the Guanqian Street shopping area in Suzhou, on Jan. 25.

Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
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China’s economy showed a few signs of improvement in January as the country charted a path through its second month without Covid Zero curbs, though a major holiday season kept a lid on some activity.

Bloomberg’s aggregate index of eight early indicators showed a slight uptick in activity in January. That compared with a contraction in December as the economy slowed in response to a massive Covid-19 outbreak.