Data released over the past month suggested that growth in Australia's major trading partners remained around the average of the past decade. The pace of growth in China had increased a little through the year and was consistent with the Chinese Government's target of 7½ per cent. Consumption and investment spending continued to grow strongly, with the latter contributing to strong demand for resources imports. Total social financing flows had picked up after slowing in the middle of the year. The Japanese economy continued to grow, although on the basis of recent data at a slower rate than the relatively strong pace ... (full story)