China’s Earliest Economic Indicators Show Signs of Stabilization

China’s policy makers, armed with their 2016 economic plan, can take heart they’ll start the year on firmer footing as the earliest indicators for December show more signs of stabilization.

Improvements are visible in gauges from search engine data to executive surveys, additional ways to take the economy’s pulse that can help fill the void after private providers recently suspended two of the earliest reads on data.

Leaders of the world’s second-largest economy have signaled they’ll do more to prevent a sharp slowdown, including widening the fiscal deficit and cutting an oversupply of housing, according to a statement Monday from a key planning conference. Authorities say growth can meet their target of about 7 percent this year. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg project a 6.9 percent 2015 pace and 6.5 percent next year.

China watchers have a tougher job of gauging the economy after losing two purchasing-manager surveys previously issued in the same month as the one being measured. The preliminary reading of an unofficial purchasing managers index from Markit Economics Ltd. and Caixin Media was scrapped in October, and a PMI from China Minsheng Banking Corp. and the China Academy of New Supply-side Economics was suspended this week.

Reports that showed no further deterioration contrasted with another New York-based survey this week that showed a worsening business climate.

Economic conditions deteriorated across the board in the fourth quarter, according to a private survey from China Beige Book published by research group CBB International. National sales revenue, volumes, output, prices, profits, hiring, borrowing, and capital expenditure were all weaker than the prior three months, the report said.

Bloomberg

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