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Use of oil for transportation has increased from 30% ten years ago to nearly 50% in 2013, according to Sanford Bernstein, as more cars are added to China's roads. This makes it less likely that a slowdown in China's growth will affect demand for oil. Sales of passenger cars increased by 11% in January and February 2014. A study at France's central bank by Gauvin and Rebillard shows only a much smaller effect on oil prices from a hard landing of the Chinese economy, compared to the effect on metal prices. Passenger cars now make up two out of three vehicles on Chinese roads, according to LMC Automotive. The growth in cars is likely to continue, not just in China, but in other emerging markets such as India, Brazil, Mexico and Russia. Metal consumption is different, as it comes mostly from housing, infrastructure and factories which are the most affected parts of the economy in China.

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Mercedes Benz targets younger buyers with the CLA small cars priced starting at $30,875.

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The impact on earnings of the failure to respond quickly to the data breach.

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After over two decades of focus on GDP growth targets, China under prime minister Li Keqiang is giving more emphasis to job growth and problems of air pollution, education, and quality of life indicators. Premier Keqiang tells a news conference in Beijing in March 2014 that China needs to create 10 million new jobs each year. More bond defaults can be expected as the financial system is being changed with new rules. Li says China will no longer be "preoccupied" with GDP growth targets. Li made the new priorities clear-"The GDP growth we want is one that brings real benefits to our people, helps raise the quality and efficiency of economic development and contributes to energy conservation and environmental protection."

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Faces of ordinary Argentines in Buenos Aires, as Argentina faces high inflation following a devaluation of the peso by 17% in early 2014. Argentina has faced recurring crises of devaluation of the currency and high inflation, in 2001 and a decade earlier under president Alfonsin, and in periods stretching back to the period after independence from Spain. Brazil had recurring bouts of inflation and devaluation of the currency which was followed by a buildup of foreign currency reserves during the recent boom in commodity markets. This has helped Brazil keep inflation under control, better than the situation facing Argentina with much smaller currency reserves.

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Efforts to meet the Bank of Japan target of 2% inflation in 2014-2015.