China’s Economy Beats Expectations in Q1 with 5.3% Growth, Fueled by Infrastructure Projects and Industrial Growth

In the first quarter of 2024, China’s economy exceeded expectations, with official data showing a 5.3% growth in gross domestic product (GDP) from January to March. This surpassed the 4.8% growth predicted by analysts. The National Bureau of Statistics stated that the national economy maintained a positive momentum of recovery during this period.

China’s economic growth can be attributed to a variety of factors, including the use of infrastructure projects to stimulate economic activity and a shift away from focusing on the consumer market and service sector towards industrial growth. Dan Wang, chief economist at Hang Seng Bank China, noted that consumption and housing investment were weak, while manufacturing and infrastructure projects drove growth.

Louise Loo, a China economist at Oxford Economics, pointed out that the first-quarter growth was driven by strong performance in manufacturing and seasonal spending associated with the Lunar New Year holiday. These factors contributed to China’s economic expansion during this period.