Economic situation: China's economy continues to divide into winners and losers

Shanghai. China's economy is growing, but no longer as many people knew from the boom years. The gross domestic product rose by 4.5 percent in the third quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year, as the statistics office in Beijing announced on Monday. This is a slight acceleration from the 4.3 percent in the second quarter and is slightly above expectations.

At the same time, growth remains below the five percent of the first quarter. In the third quarter of 2025 it was also higher at 4.8 percent. In the first nine months, economic output rose by 4.6 percent, also less than in the same period last year. The slight increase in the growth rate compared to the second quarter suggests that economic activity is stabilizing at a low level. However, growth is near the lower end of Beijing's annual target of 4.5 to five percent.