中共的經濟體，可能比統計數字更慘烈；當世界之工廠，進退不得.......

China’s economy could be worse than it looks

The Chinese economy grew by 6.6 percent in 2018, according to official numbers released on Monday — the slowest pace of growth since 1990.

But many economists, citing detailed data, see more slowing than government figures show.

Retail figures slowed markedly in the second half of the year, weighed down by a steep tumble in car and smartphone sales. Activity at factories has slowed as the trade war with the U.S. begins to bite. And the real estate market has stagnated.

Why it matters: China’s economy has always been a major driver for growth around the world and a slowdown there is one of the many reasons the global economy is decelerating.

What’s next? The Chinese government is already trying to help the economy reverse course. It has green lighted big-ticket projects, like new subway lines in many cities, to move forward, and pumped more money into the financial system. China’s leaders have also pledged to cut taxes to shore up sagging business sentiment.

Go deeper: After decades of functioning as the world’s cheap factory, China must now embrace high-value manufacturing to maintain growth, writes our New New World columnist, Li Yuan.