China’s new yuan loans trailed forecasts last month, restraining the pace of recovery in the world’s second-biggest economy after a seven-quarter slowdown. Banks extended 522.9 billion yuan ($84 billion) of local- currency loans, the People’s Bank of China said on its website today. That compares with a 550 billion yuan median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey of 30 economists and 562.2 billion yuan the same month last year. Today’s data and November’s weaker-than-expected gains in exports contrast with industrial output and retail sales figures that both exceeded analyst forecasts. Top economic officials may meet ... (full story)