China’s second-quarter GDP growth fell to 4.3% year-on-year, missing forecasts and increasing pressure for fiscal and monetary stimulus.
China’s economy expanded by 4.3% year-on-year in the second quarter, down from 5.0% in the first quarter and below market expectations of 4.5%. The slowdown marks the weakest growth since late 2022, raising concerns about domestic demand and economic momentum.
First-half growth averaged 4.7%, remaining within the government’s 4.5–5.0% target range. However, monthly indicators signal deeper weakness, with fixed-asset investment contracting further, retail sales stagnating, and net exports negative despite strong headline export growth.
Analysts anticipate increased policy support to stabilize growth, as inflation pressures and weak trade dynamics complicate the outlook.