China Q2 GDP Growth Weakest in 3-1/2 Years

2026-07-15 02:04 By Farida Husna 1 min. read

China's economy expanded 4.3% year-on-year in Q2 2026, slowing from 5.0% in Q1 and missing market forecasts of 4.5%.

It marked the weakest annual growth since Q4 2022, as weak domestic demand, subdued private investment, and the prolonged property downturn outweighed continued support from strong AI-related exports.

The latest reading also fell below the lower end of Beijing's 4-1/2%–5.0% annual growth target, highlighting the uneven recovery and reinforcing expectations of further policy support from Beijing.

Despite the slowdown, Mao Shengyong, deputy head of the National Bureau of Statistics, said the economy stayed "within an appropriate range," citing stable employment, mild inflation, and solid foreign trade momentum.

He added that the economy had shown "strong resilience," with industrial output and corporate profits accelerating, driven by high-tech and equipment manufacturing, while the services sector continued to post robust growth.

For the first half of 2026, GDP grew 4.7%.



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China Q2 GDP Growth Weakest in 3-1/2 Years
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