Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


China Manufacturing Weakens to Two-Year Low

by Associated Press

   BEIJING --

   An official measure of China's manufacturing activity fell to a
   two-year low in October, adding to pressure on Beijing to shore up
   economic growth amid a tariff war with Washington.

   The monthly purchasing managers' index issued Tuesday by the National
   Bureau of Statistics and an industry group, the China of Logistics and
   Purchasing, fell to 50.2 from September's 50.8 on a 100-point scale.

   Export orders weakened but the biggest impact was from cooling domestic
   demand after Beijing tightened lending controls to rein in a debt boom.

   Forecasters said the slowdown suggests Beijing will need to ease
   lending controls further and take other steps to shore up economic
   growth.