Chinese imports increase, export decline slows

Chinese exports fell again in August as weak demand and global uncertainty continued to weigh on the world’s second-largest economy, though the decline wasn’t as steep as in July and imports rose for the first time in nearly two years. Exports slid 2.8% last month over year-earlier levels, following a decline of 4.4% in July, the General Administration of Customs said Thursday. The median forecast from 15 economists polled by The Wall Street Journal was for a 4% export decline. Imports in August increased by 1.5% from a year earlier, reversing a 12.5% slump in July. The rise, which beat forecasts, was largely a reflection of higher prices for raw materials with little sign that domestic demand, consumption or investment have picked up.