China’s economy grows 4.3% year-on-year in the April–June (second quarter) period, according to China’s official figures cited by multiple outlets. The result marks a slowdown from the first quarter, when growth was reported at around 5%. Several reports describe it as the weakest pace since late 2022 or since about three years, depending on the comparison used.
Sources link the deceleration to weaker domestic demand. NPR and the New York Times say lagging consumer spending and business investment weigh on overall activity, even though exports provide some support. Euronews and other coverage similarly point to a prolonged property downturn and softness outside export-oriented manufacturing as key factors. The Week UK and other summaries focus on the headline growth rate itself.
NPR also notes that strong exports are partially connected to a boom in artificial intelligence-linked demand, while weaker consumption and investment offset those gains. Taken together, the reporting indicates that growth remains supported by exports but is constrained by ongoing weakness in property and broader domestic spending and investment.
