China's economy to slow further in fourth quarter

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-10-31 16:06

China's economic growth is expected to slow to 10 percent in the forth quarter down from 11.3 percent in the second quarter and 10.4 percent in the third quarter, according to a joint study by the State Information Center (SIC) and the Shanghai Securities News.

"With the implementation of the state's macro control policies and the further tightening of land and credit supply, the effect of the macro control measures will be further felt," said the study report, carried on Tuesday's Shanghai Securities News.

SIC is a think tank under the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top planning body.

The study predicts that the growth for the whole year will be around 10.5 percent.
The growth of fixed asset investment will decline from nearly 30 percent in the first half of the year to 23 percent.

The study says the consumer price index (CPI) will rebound in the fourth quarter, raising the annual figure to less than 2 percent, compared to 1.3 percent in the first three quarters.

The study suggests that existing macro controls must be consolidated in the fourth quarter to avoid a bounce-back of investment, but new curbs should not be considered.

"Attention must be given to the long-term effects of the macro controls instead of only focusing on the short-term effects," the report says.


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