China’s Exports Extend Declines, Adding Pressure to Economy (2)

China’s exports and imports continued to decline in the first two months of the year, clouding the outlook for the economy as it gradually begins recovering from Covid restrictions and infection waves.

Exports fell 6.8% in January and February from the same period last year, official data showed Tuesday, improving from December’s drop of 9.9%and a better outcome than the 9% drop predicted by economists.

Imports contracted 10.2% in the first two months of 2023 from a year earlier, far higher than the 7.5% decline in December and economists’ forecasts of a 5.5% drop. The trade surplus for the ...