China's February imports sink in news sign of weakness
Exports surged 48.3 percent, rebounding from January's 3.3 percent growth.
BEIJING (AP) - China s imports sank again in February in a new sign of weakness in the world s second-largest economy.
Customs data on Sunday showed imports shrank 20.5 percent compared with a year earlier. Combined with January s 19.9 percent decline, that brought the contraction in imports so far this year to 20.2 percent.
China s appetite for imports has ebbed as economic growth declined, hitting a two-decade low of 7.4 percent last year.
Exports surged 48.3 percent, rebounding from January s 3.3 percent growth.
On Saturday, Trade Minister Gao Hucheng said February exports would be weak but he expressed confidence the country can meet the government s goal of 6 percent growth this year in total imports and exports
