China's third-quarter growth reaches 4.5%, though an economist questions the headline figure

The short version

• China said its economy grew 4.5% year-on-year in the July-September quarter.[ABC News · Al Jazeera · ABC News]
• Leaders have set a 4.5%-5% growth target for the whole year, down from last year's 5%.[ABC News · ABC News]
• The IMF trimmed its 2026 China growth forecast to 4.5% earlier this month.[ABC News · ABC News]
• Max Zenglein of The Conference Board says the headline figure masks widening disparities, while Eswar Prasad calls reliance on foreign demand unsustainable.[ABC News · ABC News]

Key facts

• China said its economy grew 4.5% year-on-year in the July-September quarter.[ABC News · Al Jazeera · ABC News]
• Chinese leaders set a 4.5%-5% growth target for the whole year, down from last year's 5% expansion.[ABC News · ABC News]
• The International Monetary Fund trimmed its 2026 China growth forecast to 4.5% earlier this month.[ABC News · ABC News]
• Max Zenglein of The Conference Board said the headline official growth figure is an increasingly poor indicator of broader economic performance.[ABC News · ABC News]
• Eswar Prasad of Cornell University said it is untenable and unsustainable for China to rely on foreign demand to prop up its own growth.[ABC News · ABC News]
• Zhiguo He of Stanford University said he expects Beijing is getting 4.5 percent as wanted.[Al Jazeera]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• China's economy accelerates on robust exports as domestic weakness persistsABC News - Business
• China’s economy grows 4.5 percent in Q3, beating forecastsAl Jazeera
• China's economy accelerates on robust exports as domestic weakness persistsABC News - International
• China’s economy accelerated in the July-September quarter on robust exportsAssociated Press