China Watch Blog has learnt that Beijing is unveiling new measures almost daily to shore up growth that slowed to 8.1 percent in the first quarter and is expected to decline further.
Gasoline and diesel prices have been cut for the second time in a month amid growing government efforts to reverse a sharp slowdown in the economy.
The reduction came after an interest rate cut on Thursday — the country’s first in nearly four years — prompting analysts to suggest that data due this weekend will show May trade and industrial activity was even weaker than pessimistic forecasts had suggested.
“Markets are bracing for a potentially bad set of May economic data for China,” said Moody’s Analytics economist Alaistair Chan in a report.
The National Development and Reform Commission said on Friday the country will cut its retail fuel prices by more than 5.5 percent on Saturday, the deepest since December 2008, in tandem with the global slump crude oil prices.
It lowered retail gasoline prices by 530 yuan ($84) a metric ton, or 0.38 yuan a liter, to be capped at 8,320 yuan a ton.
Diesel prices were down by 510 yuan a ton, or 0.43 yuan a liter, to 7,510 yuan a ton.
Gasoline prices were down 5.5 percent, while diesel dropped by 5.8 percent, down from a previous cut on May 10 when prices were reduced about 4 percent.
China had raised fuel prices in February and March.
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