Economy China’s economy is the second largest in the world after that of the United States. The Chinese economy made a strong finish to a difficult 2012 after its growth rebounded in the fourth quarter, setting a stage for a good start to this year. For 2012 as a whole, Chinese growth was 7.8 percent, its slowest in more than a decade, dragged down by global woes and a domestic campaign to deflate a property bubble. But the economy closed off the year with a jump to 7.9 percent year-on-year growth in the final three months, up from 7.4 percent in the third quarter and breaking a streak of seven consecutive weaker quarters. According to the national statistics bureau overall the Chinese economy has been stabilizing. The rebound was due to a jump in infrastructure spending for rail and road and drainage projects by the government. Also lending support to the rebound was a loosening of monetary policy, including two mid-year interest rate cuts, to help boost housing prices and construction activity. Property is the single most important sector in the Chinese economy, accounting for more than 10 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Export activity also stabilized towards the end of the year, with China running large trade surpluses that added to the momentum. Exports growth is a major component in China’s rapid economic growth. During the past 30 years China’s economy has changed from a centrally planned system that was largely closed to International Trade to a more market-oriented system that has a rapidly growing private sector.

China’s interest rate is currently 6 percent. The interest rate in China is reported by the People’s Bank of China. Historically, from 1996 – 2013, China’s interest rate has averaged 6.44 percent reaching an all-time high of 10.98 percent in June of 1996 and a record low of 5.31 percent in February 2002. The People’s Bank of China issues two different benchmark interest rates: one year lending and one year deposit rate.

The U.S. dollar to Chinese Yuan exchange rate is currently 6.214, down from 6.316 the previous year. So it takes 6.214 Chinese Yuan to equal one U.S. dollar. The Gross Domestic Product in China was up two percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 from the previous quarter. GDP Growth Rate in China is reported by the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Historically, from 2011 to 2012, China GDP Growth Rate averaged 2.06 percent reaching an all-time high of 2.50 percent in June of 2011 and a record low of 1.50 percent in March of 2012. In China, the growth rate of GDP measures the change in the seasonally adjusted value of the goods and services produced by the Chinese economy during the quarter.

In February of this year, China’s balance of trade recorded a trade surplus of 152.51 Hundred Million USD. Balance of Trade in China is reported by the General Administration of Customs. Historically, from 1983 until 2013, China’s balance of trade has averaged 53.31 Hundred Million USD reaching an all-time high of 404 Hundred Million USD in November of 2008 and a record low of -319.81 Hundred Million USD in February of 2012. Since 1995 China has recorded consistent trade surpluses. From 2004 to 2009 China’s annual trade surplus has increased ten times. Below is a chart with the historical data for China’s Balance of Trade.

China’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 from 4.10 percent in the third quarter of 2012. Unemployment Rate in China is reported by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Historically, from 2002 until 2012, China’s unemployment rate has averaged 4.15 percent reaching an all-time high of 4.30 percent in December of 2003 and a record low of 3.90 percent in September of 2002. In China the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labor force.

China is facing some serious