Chinese imports fall sharply in January

Chinese imports fell sharply in January, a sign of sluggish domestic demand that will fuel concerns about whether the fragile global economy can count on China as a bastion of growth.
Adding to the grim picture, China’s exports also dipped last month as its companies felt a chill wind from Europe’s debt troubles. Exports fell 0.5 per cent year on year, the first decline since late 2009.