CHINA: China Posts Strong Growth In 1st Quarter

TRANSCRIPT

STEVE INSKEEP, host:

NPR's business news starts with China's economy.

(Soundbite of music)

INSKEEP: China is reporting unexpectedly strong growth in the first quarter. Beijing says its economy grew at an annual rate of nearly 12 percent. That's the fastest growth since 2007, and it's another indication of how well China is recovering from the global recession.

But the numbers is also stoking fears that China's economy might be overheating and a strong economic growth could also add pressure on Beijing to revalue its currency, which would affect the value of Chinese exports to the United States, as well as American exports to China.

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CHINA: China's Imports In March Outpaced Exports

April 12, 2010

China's demand for oil and other commodities is surging as the country's economy powers forward. Beijing says it imported so many things from the rest of the world last month, that it posted an unusual trade deficit. With the U.S., however, China still runs a surplus.

TRANSCRIPT

RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

NPR's business news starts with China's import juggernaut.

(Soundbite of music)

MONTAGNE: China's demand for oil and other commodities is surging. Beijing says it's imported so many things from the rest of the world last month, it posted an unusual trade deficit. With the U.S., however, China still runs a surplus, meaning it sells the U.S more than we sell China.

Beijing may be hoping the numbers will ease some of the political pressure to change its currency policy. U.S. lawmakers complained that China keeps its currency unfairly low in order to boost its exports.