China Industrial Output, Inflation Boost Easing Odds
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China’s industrial production grew the least since 2009 in April, new yuan loans missed estimates and inflation was below target, boosting speculation Premier Wen Jiabao will take steps to stimulate the economy.
Output increased 9.3 percent from a year earlier, the biggest negative surprise against forecasts in two years, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Local-currency loans of 681.8 billion yuan ($108 billion) compared with the median economist estimate of 780 billion yuan. Consumer prices rose 3.4 percent from a year earlier, staying below the government’s annual goal for the third month.