Hong Kong, October 18: China's economy slowed in the third quarter, amid muted global demand, deflationary pressures and an ailing property sector. The world's second-largest economy grew 4.9 per cent year-over-year in the July-September quarter, beating the 4.5 per cent forecast by analysts but slowing from the 6.3 per cent growth in the previous quarter, according to official data.

On a quarterly basis, the economy grew by 1.3 per cent in the third quarter, compared to 0.8 per cent growth in the April-to-June quarter. The Chinese government in recent months has unveiled a raft of policy support measures to shore up the economy, including infrastructure spending, cutting interest rates and easing curbs for home-buying in an attempt to revive the property sector. IMF Lowers China GDP Growth Forecast to 5.30% for Financial Year 2023-24 Amidst Country's Real Estate Crisis.

China's trade data, released earlier this week, showed that exports and imports continued to decline although they contracted at a slower rate than previously. Beijing is aiming for 5 per cent economic growth this year. Analysts estimate that China is likely to reach its goal, although that growth is likely to slow to 4.5 per cent in 2024.

Earlier this year, growth was boosted as people flocked to shopping malls and restaurants after nearly three years of “zero-COVID” restrictions were removed in late 2022. However, growth from the post-pandemic recovery fizzled out sooner than expected. China Slips Into Deflation as July's Consumer Prices Drop 0.3%, Export Plummets for Third Consecutive Month.

Retail sales, an indicator of consumer demand, rose 5.5% in September from the same period in 2022. Industrial output, which measures activity in the manufacturing, mining and utilities sectors, rose 4.5 per cent in September compared to the same month a year earlier — a rate of growth similar to last month's.

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