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Chinese Economy Surges in Last Months of 2009

   VOA News 21 January 2010

   China says its economy experienced a blistering 10.7 percent growth in
   the  fourth  quarter  of  2009,  boosting it past the annual target of
   eight percent for the full year.
   The figures were released Thursday by the government's National Bureau
   of Statistics.  The double-digit rise helped the economy finish at 8.7
   percent,  well  above  the  goal  the  government  deems  necessary to
   preserve social order.
   Beijing  took  a  number  of  aggressive  moves to boost the country's
   economy  last year as the global recession took hold, including a $586
   billion economic stimulus package and a record surge in lending.
   But  Bureau  commissioner Ma Jiantang says consumer prices rose nearly
   two  percent  in December from the previous year, raising concerns the
   surging economy will lead to inflation.
   The  government  has enacted a series of measures to cool the economy,
   including  tighter  controls  on credit and ordering banks to increase
   their reserves by 0.5 percent.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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