China's factory output and consumption beat forecasts, while property investment contraction slows

AI Summary

China's factory output and retail consumption surpassed forecasts in early 2026, offering signs of economic resilience despite a softened GDP growth target of 4.5%-5%, the lowest on record since the early 1990s. Property investment contraction showed signs of slowing, indicating a potential stabilization of the troubled real estate sector. The data suggests uneven but improving momentum in the Chinese economy.

Beijing tamped down its GDP growth target this year to a range of 4.5% to 5%, the least ambitious goal on record going back to the early 1990s.