China's power production numbers hint at economic contraction

Double-digit drop in electricity output bodes ill for first quarter GDP

20200416 China's Coal Country

China's state-owned power producers saw a widespread dip in production in the first three months of the year.  © Getty Images

KENJI KAWASE, Nikkei Asian Review chief business news correspondent

TOKYO -- The latest numbers from China's state-owned power generators and the coal miners that supply them point to zero or even negative first-quarter growth for Asia's biggest economy.

The data comes as China is due to release its GDP figure for January-March on Friday. Authorities have been keen to paint a picture of economic recovery from the devastating coronavirus outbreak, but figures showing a sharp drop in power generation -- the basis of economic activity -- tell a different story.

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