China's provinces shoot for lower growth this year

Several Chinese provinces are setting lower targets for growth this year, a sign that overall economic growth could slow, Bloomberg reported. Hebei, which borders Beijing in the north, set an 8% growth goal amid “unprecedented pressure” from air-pollution controls, according to an annual work report published Tuesday in the official Hebei Daily. Last year’s target was 9%. Fujian in the southeast and Gansu and Ningxia in the northwest are also targeting slower expansion, state-run websites show. At least seven provinces have indicated they will shoot for lower targets as the central government focuses on policies to sustain the economy in the long term.