Build your portfolio alongside our experts. China’s economic growth lost momentum at the start of the second quarter, with industrial output rising just 4.1% year-on-year in April — the weakest pace since July 2023 — and retail sales sinking to over three-year lows. The disappointing data, released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday, reflects headwinds from higher energy costs linked to the Iran conflict and persistently weak domestic demand, though better‑than‑expected exports offered some relief.
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- Industrial output growth slows sharply: April’s factory output rose only 4.1% year‑on‑year, compared with 5.7% in March and a consensus forecast of 5.9%. This was the slowest expansion since July 2023.
- Retail sales hit multi‑year lows: Consumer spending weakened significantly, with retail sales falling to levels not seen in over three years, reflecting persistent softness in domestic demand.
- Energy costs from the Iran war weigh on margins: Higher energy prices are squeezing already thin factory profit margins. China’s fuel‑pricing controls have provided some buffer, but the risk of further deterioration exists if the conflict continues.
- Exports outperform expectations: A better‑than‑expected export performance helped partially offset the drag from the domestic slowdown, offering a bright spot in an otherwise muted monthly report.
- Policy implications: The data may heighten expectations for additional stimulus measures from Beijing, as the economy faces headwinds from both external energy shocks and internal consumption weakness.
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Key Highlights
China’s economy slowed sharply in April as the world’s second‑largest economy grappled with rising energy costs from the Iran war and stubbornly soft domestic consumption, according to data released Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics.
Factory output expanded 4.1% from a year earlier last month, down sharply from a 5.7% gain in March and missing the 5.9% growth forecast in a Reuters poll. The reading marked the slowest industrial production growth since July 2023.
Retail sales, a key gauge of consumer spending, also sank to their weakest level in more than three years, underscoring the fragility of household demand. The data showed that higher input costs from energy‑price increases are squeezing factory margins, which could further dampen consumer spending if the conflict in the Middle East drags on.
The NBS report also highlighted that China’s domestic fuel‑pricing controls have helped cushion the blow from the global energy shock. Meanwhile, exports came in better than expected, providing a partial offset to the weakness in domestic sectors.
“The strong performance of the exporters helped to mitigate the weaknesses in the domestic economy,” the NBS statement noted, though the overall picture points to a loss of momentum as the second quarter gets under way. The combination of rising energy‑related input costs and tepid consumer confidence suggests that the recovery remains uneven and subject to external risks.
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Expert Insights
The April activity data suggest that China’s economic recovery is losing steam after a relatively solid start to 2026. The sharp deceleration in industrial output and the multi‑year low in retail sales indicate that the domestic demand recovery remains fragile and uneven.
The energy cost shock from the Iran conflict is a key wild card. While China’s fuel‑pricing controls have limited the pass‑through to consumers and industrial users, higher input costs are likely to continue squeezing manufacturer margins. If the conflict persists, the drag on both production and consumption could intensify.
The better‑than‑expected export performance provides a modest cushion, but reliance on external demand is risky given global economic uncertainty. Investors and policymakers will be watching closely for any signs that the weakness is spreading to the labour market or credit conditions.
From a policy perspective, the disappointing April data could reinforce expectations that the People’s Bank of China and the fiscal authorities may introduce further supportive measures, such as targeted rate cuts or additional infrastructure spending, to stabilise growth in the coming months. However, the effectiveness of any new stimulus may be limited if consumer confidence remains subdued and energy costs stay elevated.
Overall, the data suggests that China’s economy faces a challenging second quarter, with growth momentum likely to remain modest unless external headwinds ease or domestic demand receives a stronger policy boost.
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