CHINA

Output by Light Industry Jumps 21%: The country’s light industry output rose 21% to $187 billion in the first eight months of this year against the year-earlier period, driven by a surge in exports, the official China Daily reported. Light industrial exports rose by 25% during the period to $13.9 billion, with toys, leather wear, plastic goods, arts and crafts the major export items, the paper quoted a China National Council of Light Industry spokesman as saying. Light industry in China is growing faster than heavy industry. Continued strong consumer spending is pushing light industry ahead while government-imposed limits on large construction projects are holding back heavy industry.