Recently released Chinese financial data shows a decrease in the country’s retail sales and factory output figures. Despite these drops, global demand for industrial silver remains strong. 2011 saw a new worldwide demand record for silver. Projections for the coming years, through 2015, indicate that this trend will continue.
China’s inflation rate dropped to the lowest point since June of 2009, during the first weeks of March 2012. Net Chinese silver imports reached new levels in 2010, quadrupling to over 3,500 metric tons. Silver demand in China has been bolstered by strong demand for jewelry manufacturing and industrial output.
China’s slowing growth is a concern for silver enterprises, due to a projected drop in silver consumption, estimated at only seven and one-half percent for this year. This figure represents the lowest projection for China’s growth in nearly a decade. An expectation of loosened fiscal policy to stimulate growth in China is indicated by the marginal inflation rate and subdued growth picture.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/silver-stocks-stagnate-china-cues-122000555.html
