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The decline in Chinese exports accelerated in September, the same for imports which have been declining for five consecutive months. REUTERS / Stringer

According to the third quarter statistics released on Friday morning, the Chinese economy is at its lowest point in 27 years.

With our correspondent in Beijing, Stéphane Lagarde

We stay above the 6% red line set by the government, and that is the essence - almost a sigh of relief - for the official media. Barely 6% increase in Chinese gross domestic product compared to the second quarter, and the official is all right: without this " deadly trade war " with the United States, an expert interviewed by Huanqiu Shibao, " China would have (no problem) been able to achieve a positive GDP growth rate of more than 6.5% in the third quarter ".

Except we are not there! China's new and the People's Daily may evoke the resilience of the Chinese economy, smooth the growth curve to 6.2% in the first three quarters and expect a rebound in the fourth, the country is facing a real slowdown, the largest in nearly three decades.

The decline in Chinese exports accelerated in September, the same for imports which have been declining for five consecutive months. The slowdown in domestic demand is affecting the automotive sectors, restaurant outings, entertainment, with fears for employment, even though the latter remains stable for now. The government's measures are now expected, but analysts warn: the possibilities of stimulus are limited, as the Chinese economy is already heavily indebted.