China’s economic growth cooled in the second quarter of 2026, with gross domestic product expanding by 4.3% year-on-year, down from 5.0% in the first quarter of the year. The latest figure, based on a year-over-year comparison, was updated on 15 July 2026.
The first-quarter reading of 5.0% had also been measured on a year-over-year basis, comparing activity in the first quarter of 2026 to the same period in 2025. The second-quarter result follows the same methodology, comparing the second quarter of 2026 with the corresponding quarter a year earlier. The deceleration suggests that momentum in China’s economic recovery has moderated as the year has progressed.
This slowdown in annual growth between the first and second quarters will likely draw attention from policymakers and investors monitoring the strength and durability of China’s expansion through 2026, especially given the importance of consistent GDP performance to both domestic planning and global market sentiment.
