New leadership and favourable economic data from October prompt predictions that the economy of China will grow at 8% or above next year, on the eve of a top-level meeting.  The Central Economic Working Conference comes amid strong feeling among economists and government researchers that growth in the world’s second-biggest economy is on the rebound. 

Economists who say the mainland’s growth will accelerate in 2013 say the new leadership may adopt a slightly expansionary fiscal policy to support investment and consumption as part of the nation’s urbanization push, while keeping monetary policy stable.