For most of the last year, as the credit crunch squeezed economies around the world, China seemed to be sailing through almost unharmed. Growth in the first half remained in double figures and the slowdown that did take place felt more like a much-needed breather rather than a looming crisis.
Yet through September and October of this year, that sense of comfort quickly disappeared. The Chinese economy is slowing rapidly – so fast that some observers fear it could be more than just a temporary dip.
