RSSeNEWS to be determined...

China's national statistician has issued a confident prediction that his country will continue its robust climb out of recession. But he warned against abandoning macro-economic measures designed to stimulate domestic demand.

Yao Jingyuan, chief economist of the National Bureau of Statistics, said that the three month period ending in February 09 was the bottom of the downturn. Annual growth is forecast to reach 8 per cent this year, but the country needs to build upon the upswing.

Yao asserted that major structural changes to the economy are vital. Presently there is an over-reliance on inward investment coupled with industrial overcapacity, exposing the economy to volatility in external markets.

Menanwhile, employment data published in the UK on 14 October illustrated how, internationally, countries are at different stages in the economic cycle. ONS statistics show that for the first time in 18 months, job vacancies have not fallen. Commentators are hopeful that unemployment in the UK is now levelling off.