China's softening growth slows power use

In the short term, Dai predicted power use growth would recover this month because of stabilizing coal production.

China Electricity Council estimated national power consumption to grow steadily this year at 7 percent, in line with the country's economic growth.

China's economy grew 7.7 percent last year, well above the government goal, but a set of data that pointed to softening manufacturing activity in recent months has renewed concerns on the growth outlook.

Earlier data showed the purchasing managers' index for the manufacturing sector retreated to an eight-month low in February and slowed for the third month running.

In view of the weak strength, several institutions have lowered their forecasts for China's economic growth in the first quarter.

The Bank of America Merrill Lynch has cut the GDP growth forecast in the first quarter to 7.3 percent from its previous estimate of 8 percent, while the Center for China in the World Economy under Tsinghua University tuned down its forecast to 7.4 percent from its January estimate of 7.5 percent.

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