Global Economy Shows Strain as U.S. Steams Ahead

China, Japan and Germany show signs of stress, posing a risk to the U.S. should the trends persist

William Boston in Berlin,

Josh Zumbrun in Washington and

Nina Adam in Frankfurt

Updated Nov. 14, 2018 6:58 p.m. ET

The global economy has hit a soft patch, putting the U.S.’s robust growth at risk should the slowdown persist.

Economic output in Japan and Germany contracted in the third quarter, while in October consumer spending in China hit its slowest pace in five months and bank lending fell, according to data released Wednesday about the world’s biggest economies after the U.S.

“You’ve...