China’s year-to-date GDP growth moderated in the second quarter of 2026, with the indicator easing to 4.7% year-over-year from 5.0% recorded in the first quarter of 2026. The latest figure, updated on 15 July 2026, highlights a slight loss of momentum in the world’s second-largest economy as the year progresses.
Both the previous and current readings are based on year-over-year comparisons, measuring how economic output in the respective quarters has changed against the same period a year earlier. The shift from 5.0% to 4.7% suggests that while China continues to expand at a solid pace, growth is slowing compared with the start of the year.
The moderation in the second quarter will likely draw attention from policymakers and investors watching for signs of sustained resilience or further deceleration in China’s economic trajectory through the rest of 2026.
