_Economy and Finance

REVIEW & OUTLOOK |MAY 25, 2011 China's Growth Risks Rising inflation and an opaque financial system, among others. The Chinese economy is coming in for some sort of landing, and everyone is speculating whether it will be hard or soft. After HSBC on Monday released a purchasing managers index barely in positive territory, Goldman Sachs yesterday lowered its growth forecast for the year to 9.4% from 10%. But the determining factor in the hard vs. soft debate, and one reason global markets have fallen out of bed this week, is that Chinese inflation continues to accelerate. Goldman predicts an annual rate of 5.6% in June, up from 5.3% in April.

THE OUTLOOK |MARCH 28, 2011 Crises Nudge Debt Loads to Brink By MARK WHITEHOUSE The financial strains created by crises in Japan and Europe highlight a growing problem: The rich world is getting close to the point where it won't be able to bear the costs of another disaster.