What China’s latest retail sales reveal about changing consumer spending

The broader Chinese economy got off to a good start in 2024 if the numbers are true. Bigstock.
Reporting by the business media of retail sales and other economic data produced by governments in developing Asia is often too trusting. The official numbers are usually reported unquestioningly, yet they can be deeply flawed for a number of reasons. Occasionally it is worth reminding ourselves that they need to be taken with a pinch of salt, sometimes a handful of it.  With respect to China, there have long been doubts over the quality of economic data coming out of the National Statistic

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