China’s Economy Grows 4.5 Percent in Q3, Beating Forecasts

China’s GDP grew 4.5 percent year-on-year in the July-September quarter, up from 4.3 percent in the second quarter and ahead of most analysts’ forecasts. Growth reached 4.6 percent in the first nine months of 2026. Exports rose more than 16 percent, driven by demand for semiconductors and other technology goods amid the artificial intelligence boom, while weak domestic demand and a slumping property market weighed on the economy. Retail sales increased 1.1 percent in September and industrial production rose 5.5 percent, but fixed-asset investment contracted 7.2 percent over the first nine months.