National Bureau of Statistics

China's economy experienced robust growth in the first quarter of 2024, defying market expectations and signaling resilience amid challenges in the property market. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, the world's second-largest economy expanded by 5.3% on an annual basis, surpassing forecasts for GDP growth of 4.6%.

China's economy expanded far more than expected in the first quarter of 2024, data showed Tuesday, but disappointing retail and industrial figures suggested leaders face severe headwinds to hit their annual growth target.

Chinese consumer prices rose in February for the first time since August, data showed on March 9, bucking a months-long stretch of deflation that compounded the country's myriad economic woes.

The world's second-largest economy posted some of its lowest growth in decades last year and is battling a prolonged property sector crisis and soaring youth unemployment.

China's factory activity decline deepened in December, official data showed yesterday, as Beijing rounded off a year marked by its stuttering economic recovery from the pandemic.

China slipped into deflation for the first time in more than two years in July, official data showed yesterday, as slowing domestic spending weighs on the post-COVID economic recovery.

The reading comes a day after news that the country suffered its biggest fall in exports since the early days of the pandemic, while imports tanked again as domestic and global demand fall away.

Chinese inflation came in flat again in May, official figures showed on June 9, as the country's economy sputters owing to softening demand and falling exports, leading to calls for a rate cut and a bigger government stimulus.

The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.2 percent on-year, from 0.1 percent in April, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said.

China's economic data for April missed expectations last month, official figures showed yesterday, as low demand and high youth unemployment led to a patchy recovery after lifting strict COVID rules.    

Retail sales - a key indicator of domestic consumer activity -- grew 18.4 percent on-year, data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed.    

China's manufacturing activity contracted in April, official figures showed yesterday, due to slack global demand and a slow domestic recovery after lifting COVID-related curbs.    

China is launching an annual recruitment of college graduates in large and midsize cities, the official Xinhua news agency said yesterday, as authorities double down on efforts to meet a more ambitious job creation goal this year.

The recruitment drive, hosted by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, will last from yesterday to May 26, Xinhua said.

China's economy grew last year at its slowest pace in four decades as it was hammered by COVID lockdowns and a property crisis but the forecast-beating reading raised hopes for a strong recovery as it reopens.