As Growth Slows, China to Start Second Economic Census

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Sept. 25 – China will carry out its second economic census between October and December state media reports.

The census, which has been conducted every five years since 2004, helps Beijing form the basis for the nation’s social and economic development blueprint during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015).

The National Bureau of Statistics announced that their office would survey all enterprises from the secondary and tertiary sectors, including the smaller ones that had earlier been left out in annual statistics.

Economists say the census will prove particularly important this year as the figures will shed more light on how local enterprises are faring amid the subprime crisis.

China’s economic growth, which surged 11.9 percent in 2007, slowed to 10.4 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2008, amid inflationary pressures and a general worldwide slowdown. The government has said it will strive to maintain stable economic growth, which is seen as a sign that it will relax the tightening measures if economic outlook worsens at home.

About 8 million manufacturing enterprises and more than 30 million private businesses will be involved in the census this year.