China surprised analysts with a strong start to the year, posting a 5.3% GDP growth in the first quarter of 2024, outperforming expectations of a 4.6% increase. However, the country’s retail sales growth slowed to 3.1%, indicating challenges in boosting consumer confidence. Moody’s Analytics highlighted the need for households to contribute to growth if China aims to reach its 5% target.
The property sector remains a major concern, with a 9.5% decrease in property investment and falling home prices in March. This crisis was exacerbated by the liquidation of Evergrande and winding-up petitions for other developers in Hong Kong. Fitch recently downgraded China’s outlook due to mounting financial risks and economic challenges, marking a shift from the country’s previous rapid economic growth.
Despite its previous rapid growth, China is now facing significant economic challenges, especially in the property sector. The government will need to address these issues and seek ways to boost consumer confidence and investment to sustain growth. The downturn in the property market highlights the need for structural reforms and careful management to navigate through this challenging period.