Chinese continue to spend in defiance of the world's worst recession since before WWII, but evidence continues to emerge that their confidence is fraying at the edges. Worries about job security are creeping in, as Chinese-language media reports a string of grim news about declining trade, hints of deflation, and job losses at multinational companies like Intel which is shutting its assembly and test facility in Shanghai.

For a rundown on retail sales, click here. For February's trade data, go here. Other recent reports include: Industrial output, consumer confidence, bank lending, and AmCham-China's recent Business Climate Survey, which showed near-term pessimism but long-term optimism about China. Auto sales were also up in February, driven in part by tax cuts, so it's uncertain whether this will continue.