The frequently critical comments about the slowdown in the growth of the Chinese economy do not help to understand the action of its leaders and the direction in which the country is heading. A range of between 4.5 and 5% had been chosen for GDP growth in 2026. The figures for the 1st half of the year placed it at the bottom of this range and the latest forecasts for the 3rd quarter estimate it to be even lower. While business and public sector investment remains dynamic, household consumption is growing little and the main driver of the Chinese ...

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The National Bureau of Statistics in Beijing has just published the figures for the 2nd quarter of 2026 of the Chinese economy. Year-on-year growth was 4.3% after 5% in the 1st quarter, i.e., over the 1st half of the year, a pace of 4.7% in the range between 4.5 and 5% which is the authorities' target for 2026. The only figure that caught the attention of commentators was 4.3%, pointing out that it is one of the lowest levels in recent decades. It was interpreted as a sign of the difficulties that the country would ...

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Since the liberalization of trade and the internationalization of financial markets, central banks have become major players in the choice and implementation of economic policy. They have different missions and statuses depending on the country or continent. Of all, it is the European Central Bank (ECB) that has the greatest freedom of action, thanks to its independence enshrined in its founding treaty and the definition of its mission in its statute, to reduce and maintain inflation in the euro zone to a level below but close to 2%. It can then act to support growth and employment.

The US Federal ...

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