Chinese, German Trade Surpluses Expand
- In a report the was better than expected, the Chinese government announced that the value of the nation’s exports rose 7.9 percent between January 2016 and January 2017. The value of the nation’s imports increased 16.7 percent. The Chinese trade surplus was $51.35 billion in January, up from $40.71 billion in December. Exports to the United States rose 6.2 percent at the end of 2016 and the nation’s trade surplus with the United States was $21.37 billion, down from $21.73 billion in December.
- According to the German government, the value of the country’s exports increased 1.2 percent in 2016 and the nation’s trade surplus rose to $270 billion, a new record. The value of the nation’s imports rose 0.6 percent.
- The German government also announced last week that industrial production in the country fell three percent from November 2016 to December 2016. Economists had expected a 0.3 percent increase. Factory orders in the country improved, however, rising 5.2 percent in December.