China Reports Jan.-Feb. Economic Activity Worse Than Expected

Security guards patrol the quiet Wangfujing shopping, a usually popular tourist spot before the new coronavirus outbreak in Beijing, on March 10, 2020. China's consumer spending and other business activity fell even more than expected in January and February due to its virus outbreak, adding to the ruling Communist Party's challenges as it tries to revive the world's second-largest economy. Andy Wong/AP

BEIJING–China’s consumer spending and factory activity fell more than expected in January and February as it fought a virus outbreak, prompting some forecasters to warn this year’s economic growth might slump to its lowest level since the 1970s.

Retail sales fell about 21 percent from a year ago after shopping malls and other businesses were closed in late January, government data showed on March 16. Factory output declined by a record 14 percent after the Lunar New Year holiday was extended to keep manufacturing employees at home.