Chinese in disbelief that a US$295 monthly salary makes them ‘middle class’

China wants its middle class to counter an economic slowdown by spending more, but in reality many of them are struggling financially.

Their plight has again come into view after the National Bureau of Statistics on Friday gave a rare official definition of “middle income” – and it seems many people disagreed. The agency was forced to issue a clarification after its estimate was met with widespread ridicule online.