November 17, 2008 (LPAC)--In another demonstration of the contraction of China's economy, for the first time in almost ten years China's power consumption fell outright in October, down 3.7%. This was the first year-on-year monthly decrease in power consumption since 1999, Xinhua reported. Total electricity generated also contracted, down 4% from October a year ago, the China Electricity Council announced. The Council reported today that "power generation was dragged down mainly by a 5.2% year-on-year decrease in coal-fired power supply, which accounts for about 80% of China's total power." Chinese economists are warning that the fall of power generation is an indication of more industrial contraction to come.