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Is GDP still a useful gauge of China's economy?

Jul 17, 2023
There is a longstanding debate about whether the data is accurate. Some are skeptical of government officials' projections of 5% growth.
Crowds at Chengdu city's Taikoo Li commercial district. Chinese shoppers are consuming more, but not enough to offset weakness in the real estate sector and boost the sluggish economy. (Jennifer Pak/Marketplace)
Jennifer Pak/Marketplace

China's economy is bouncing back, but for how long?

Oct 19, 2020
Consumers helped push GDP 4.9% higher in the third quarter. But they may not be able to do much more.
Commuters wear face masks to protect against COVID-19 during rush hour in Beijing on Oct. 15.
Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images

China scraps GDP target in rough economic times, but some reformers cheer

May 22, 2020
Reformers hope the lack of an economic growth target means policymakers can move beyond short-term thinking toward longer-term priorities.
Workers at a shipyard in China's Jiangsu province. For the first time, China has not set a GDP growth target.
STR/AFP via Getty Images

China sets course for a "moderately prosperous" economy

Oct 26, 2017
Chinese President Xi Jinping was installed for another entirely expected five-year term by the Communist Party Congress this week. And in the course of a three-plus hour speech to open the Congress, Xi said something that hasn’t gotten much notice here, but is all over the Chinese press: He wants to build a moderately prosperous […]