China\'s economy, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and the biggest contributor to global growth, grew 9.9 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters of this year, according to official figures released on Monday, showing a trend of a slowdown amid the current global financial crisis.
In the third quarter, the gro domestic product (GDP) growth rate slowed down to 9 percent, the lowest in five years, from 10.6 percent in the first quarter, 10.1 percent for the second quarter and 10.4 percent in the first half of 2008.
China\'s economic growth has been on a steady decline since peaking in the second quarter of 2007.The slowing world economy pummeled by the global financial crisis and weaker demand for Chinese exports on international markets heavily weighted on the Chinese economy, according to Li Xiaochao, spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics.
Another widely watched indicator, the consumer price index (CPI) -- an important measure of inflation -- rose 4.6 percent in September, over the same period last year.
The figure, coupled with 7.1 percent in June, 6.3 percent in July, 4.9 percent in August and a nearly 12-year-high of 8.7 percent in February, shows the CPI in a downward spiral.
Analysts mainly attribute the decline in the CPI to ample grain supply and lower-than-expected income growth of Chinese residents, as the housing and stock markets take heavy toll, which dented residents\' desire to consume.
Chinese stocks have shed nearly 70 percent of their value from the last year\'s peak at 6,124 points due to weak investor confidence.
The stock market rose more than two percent on Monday amid expectation the government would unveil more measures to stimulate economy.The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 43.36 points to close at 1,974.01 points.
Exports, one of the three major drivers of the Chinese economy along with investment and consumption, are taking hit from the global financial turmoil and economic slowdown.In the first three quarters exports grew 22.3 percent, 4.8 percent points lower than the same period last year.
Fixed aets investment totaled 11.6246 trillion yuan ($1.66 trillion) in the first three quarters of 2008, up 27.0 percent over the same period last year, according to the bureau.
The growth rate was 0.7 percentage points higher than the first half of this year, or 1.3 percentage points higher than the year-earlier level.
Another key economic indicator, retail sales, increased by 22 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters and climbed 23.2 percent in September alone.Analysts say China would have to further stimulate domestic consumption in order to push the economy forward amid an export slump.
\"China still has huge potential and leeway to expand domestic consumption,\" Li said.
The combination of an economic slowdown and easing inflation may give rise to louder calls for loosening the monetary policy and adopting a more proactive fiscal policy.
Analysts expect more monetary easing, building on two cuts in interest rates and banks\' required reserves since mid-September.
The State Council said on Sunday China\'s economy can weather the effects of the global financial turmoil, but growth will decline as busine profits and public revenues slow.
In a statement at the end of an executive meeting presided by Premier Wen Jiabao, it said the global turmoil and economic instability will have a \"gradual\" effect on the country.
It said China\'s economic growth will slow along with corporate profits and public revenues, and as capital markets continue to fluctuate.
\"Unfavorable international factors and the serious natural disasters at home have not changed the basic growth situation of our country\'s economy,\" said the statement posted on a government website.\"Our country\'s economic growth has the ability and vigor to resist risks.\" China must \"adopt flexible and cautious macroeconomic policies\" to maintain stable growth, the statement said.
The State Council said that in the fourth quarter, China should focus on developing the rural economy, while striving to control inflation.
中国经济是世界增长最快的经济之一，也是对全球经济增长的最大贡献者之一。根据周一官方发布的数据显示，中国经济在今年三个季度增长9.9%，这也表明最近全球财政危机的影响减小。
在今年的第三季度，国民生产总值增长速度下降到了9%，这是五年以来的最低值。第一季度增长百分比为10.6%，第二季度为10.1%，2008年上半年增长百分比为10.4%。
自从2007年第二季度达到顶峰后，至今中国经济增长百分比一直呈现稳定的下降趋势。根据国家数据统计局的发言人李小超所说，受全球金融危机的冲击，全球经济发展缓慢，在国际市场中，中国出口量需求减少，这严重影响了中国经济的发展。
另一项明显的显示是，衡量通货膨胀的一项重要指标---消费物价指数，九月份这一指数和去年同一时间相比增长了4.6%。
这一数据，在六月份为7.1%，是其两倍，七月份为6.3%，八月份为4.9%，在二月份达到了12年以来的最高值---8.7%，这表明消费物价指数是成螺旋式下降的。
科学家分析说，消费物价指数的下降主要是由于充足的粮食供应，中国居民的比预期要低的工资收入增长，房产和股票市场占据了巨大份额，降低了人们的消费需求。
由于投资者信心减弱，中国股市已经从去年的高峰值为6124个点下跌了近70%。
寄希望于政府采取更多的措施调节经济，股票市场在周一增长了大于两个百分点。基准上海综合指数上涨43.36点，收于1974.01点。
出口和投资、消费一道被称为是中国经济发展的三大动力，受全球金融混乱和经济下滑影响，中国出口方面遭受重创。在前三个季度，出口额增长了22.3%，比去年同一时期降低了4.8%。
根据国家统计局显示，2008年前三个季度固定资产投资总共为116.2246亿元（约合16.6亿美元），比去年同一时期增长了27%。
增长率比今年上半年增加了0.7个百分点，比去年增加了1.3个百分点。 另一项经济指标是零售销售额，前三个季度增长了22%，在九月份增长到了
23.2%。经济分析学家说中国将不得不长远的调节内部消费，在出口降低的条件下推动经济发展。
李小超说：“中国在扩大内部消费方面仍有很大的潜力和余地。”
经济放缓和宽松的通胀相结合，可能会引发更大的呼声，要求放宽货币政策，采取更加积极的财政政策。
经济分析学家预计，九月中旬以来，货币政策会放宽，利率和银行的存款准备金率会下调。
在周日国务院发言说，中国的经济可以抵御全球金融混乱的影响， 但是由于商业利润和公共收入的降低，增长速度会下降。
在一个由温家宝总理主持的会议结束时声明中说，全球动荡和经济的不稳定将会对国家有一个“渐进”的影响。
随着企业利润和公共财政收入的增长，中国经济的增长将放缓，而且随着资本市场的不断波动。
在政府网站上发布的声明说：“不利的国际因素和国内一系列的自然灾害并没有改变我们国家的基本增长环境，我国的经济有能力、有活力抵御风险。”
声明中还说“中国必须采取灵活谨慎的宏观经济政策，保证稳定增长。” 国务院说在今年第四个季度，中国在控制通货膨胀的同时会注重发展农村经济。
