To summarize the Chinese official data released on Friday Sept. 11:
The Good
Manufacturing output: up by 12.3% year on year, better than last month’s 10.8% and higher than consensus.
Steel output: up 29%
Auto production: up 90%.
Urban fixed-asset investment: up 33.0% for the first eight months of the year, which slightly exceeded already-high estimates of 32.5%.
Retail sales: up [...]
George Baxter Bank Lending, Consumption, Stimulis, stats auto, Consumption, copper, exports, imports, iron ore, oil, retail sales, steel, Stimulis
This is clear evidence that the Chinese were stock piling oil, copper and iron ore. I believe this was done in large part to generate the perception of economic activity. Otherwise, this information is wildly inconsistent with the most recent Chinese reports of manufacturing activity and retail sales.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/china-imports-of-crude-iron-ore-fall-from-record-2009-09-11
George Baxter Stimulis imports, oil, Stimulis