China's economic growth stays stable as ruling party meets
BEIJING (AP) — China's economic growth stayed relatively stable in the latest quarter, buoyed by strength in retail spending and exports, giving the ruling Communist Party a boost as President Xi Jinping prepares for a new term as leader.
The economy expanded at a still-robust 6.8 percent annual pace in the three months ending in September, a marginal change from the previous quarter's 6.9 percent, government data showed Thursday.
Forecasters expect the unexpectedly strong growth this year to weaken as Beijing tightens controls on bank lending to cool a rise in debt cited by analysts as the biggest threat to economic stability.