China Considers New Economic Stimulus Amidst Slowdown
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China Considers New Economic Stimulus Amidst Slowdown
- China's economy grew by 4.7% in the first half of 2026, remaining within the government's annual target range of 4.5% to 5%.
- The Communist Party's Politburo, led by President Xi Jinping, met on Thursday, July 30, 2026, to discuss the economic situation and future policy.
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Chinese officials are considering new measures to stimulate the economy following a recent slowdown. In the second quarter of 2026, China’s GDP growth decelerated to 4.3% year-over-year, down from 5.0% in the first quarter, marking the slowest quarterly expansion since late 2022. Despite this, the first half of 2026 saw an overall growth of 4.7%, keeping it within Beijing’s annual target range of 4.5% to 5%.
The Politburo, a key decision-making body of the Communist Party, convened on Thursday, July 30, 2026, to assess the economic landscape and outline priorities for the latter half of the year. While officials signaled a more supportive stance towards the economy, they did not immediately announce a large-scale stimulus package. Instead, a readout from the Xinhua News Agency indicated plans to “roll out pragmatic and effective new policies in a timely manner” and accelerate fiscal spending.
The economic deceleration is partly attributed to a slow recovery in the property sector and weak consumer demand, even as exports have shown strong performance. In December 2025, China had already announced a $9 billion stimulus package for 2026 to boost domestic demand, including ultra-long special government bonds for consumer goods trade-in programs and support for private investment. The People’s Bank of China has also indicated flexibility in monetary policy, including potential cuts to required reserve ratios and interest rates. The upcoming fifth plenary session of the party’s Central Committee in October is expected to further shape the long-term economic strategy.