Impact on economy 'will be limited'

The earthquake that hit Sichuan province will only have a limited impact on China's economy, although disruption to agriculture in the region might add to the nation's mounting inflation, analysts said.

The quake has damaged factories, buildings, roads and railways in regions of Sichuan.

"Its impact on China's economic growth will be temporary and limited," Sun Mingchun, an economist with Lehman Brothers said. "It should be much less than that of the snowstorms in January and February which affected larger areas and lasted longer."