In the vast metropolis of Chongqing in western China, three huge Ford Motor assembly plants have slowed to a fraction of their earlier pace. In the eastern province of Jiangsu, hundreds of chemical factories have closed. In Guangdong Province in the southeast, factories have idled workers in droves. China’s huge economy, a major driver of global growth, is cooling just when the world needs its spark. Data released by Beijing in recent months shows softer investment, unprofitable factories and consumers who are no longer so quick to open their wallets. It is happening at a difficult time. The broader world outlook is beginning to ddim.The American economy, which has powered ahead in recent years with strong growth and low uunemployment, is showing some signs of a slowdown and is facing higher short-term interest rates that could […]