Retail sales were below growth forecasts last month and the poorest figures for 15 years Ming Ming / ReutersRetail sales in China grew at their slowest pace in 15 years last month and industrial output shrank to near three-year lows according to official figures that sent stock markets and the oil price falling. Retail sales grew by 8.1 per cent in November compared with the same month last year, figures from the National Bureau of Statistics showed today. The rise was below the 8.8 per cent that had been forecast and represented the slowest growth since May 2003. In October retail sales in the world’s second-largest economy rose by 8.6 per cent. At the same time, official figures showed that industrial output in China rose by 5.4 per cent year on year in November, also below analysts’ forecasts and matching the growth rate…

Source: The Times December 14, 2018 08:59 UTC