Global Economic Analysis and News of Note
The Chinese economy expanded 7.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014, the weakest growth level in 24 years. According to Agence-France Presse, weakening manufacturing and real estate sectors seriously impacted fourth quarter growth, as did trade weakness. Still ANZ economist Liu Li-Gang said, “The 2014 GDP result is better than market expectations and barely missed the target. This result is not too bad.”