A former Chinese finance minister criticized the country’s statistics for not properly reporting negative economic changes, with the rare harsh public statement from a senior figure highlighting long-standing concerns about the accuracy and reliability of national data. A key meeting of top leaders this week said China’s growth next year will be weighed down by a “triple” whammy of contracting demand, a supply shock, and weakening expectations. However, none of those are visible in the statistical indicators, which have all been “very good,” Lou Jiwei, a former minister of finance, said at an online event Saturday. Lou Jiwei in 2016.Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg “There are insufficient figures reflecting negative changes” in the economy, Lou said, adding the one-sided data make it harder to assess the government’s current judgment on the “triple forces” overshadowing the economy. “In contrast, the U.S. has both positive and negative numbers.” While the government touts the […]