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TO THE POINT: China is becoming more expensive in many wayswith rising prices for oil and dairy products, leading economiststo conclude that the country has entered a period of inflation.Consumers' willingness to buy was deeply hurt by the plummetingstock market. China's textile exports decreased in the first twomonths of 2008, while many clothing companies were unprofitablebecause of the U.S. dollar's depreciation. A World Bank report saysEast Asian economies will maintain their high growth despite theglobal economic slowdown.

By LIU YUNYUN