BREAKINGBREAKING, The world’s second-largest economy slowed to 4.5 percent growth in the final quarter, data shows.China’s economy grew 5 percent in 2025, hitting Beijing’s annual target even as it registered one of the weakest expansions in decades, according to official statistics.The Chinese economy grew in line with official expectations despite United States President Donald Trump’s trade war, official data showed on Monday, as surging exports helped offset weak consumer spending and a prolonged property downturn.Still, despite shrugging off Trump’s tariffs, growth was still well below the historical trend of about 8 percent between 2000 and 2025.The world’s second-largest economy slowed to annualised growth of 4.5 percent in the October-December period compared with expansions of 4.8 percent and 5.2 percent in the third and second quarters, respectively.“Generally speaking, the national economy sustained momentum of steady progress in 2025 despite multiple pressures, and high-quality development registered new achievements,” China’s National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement.“However, we must be aware that the impact of changes in the external environment is growing, the contradiction of strong supply and weak demand in the domestic market is prominent, and the numerous longstanding issues and new challenges still remain in the economic development.”Exports drove the Chinese economy’s expansion, with their total value rising 6.1 percent to 26,989 billion yuan ($3.9 trillion), according to the data.China’s trade surplus reached a record high of nearly $1.2 trillion last …
