BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s economy expanded 4.6% in the third quarter from a year earlier, official data showed on Friday, slightly beating analysts’ expectations, maintaining pressure on policymakers as they consider more stimulus measures.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected third-quarter gross domestic product to have grown 4.5% from a year earlier, slowing from 4.7% in the previous three months.
Authorities have sharply ramped up policy stimulus since late September to revive the flagging economy and ensure growth will reach the government’s target of around 5% this year.
On a quarter-by-quarter basis, GDP expanded 0.9% in July-September, slightly below expectations for a 1.0% rise and compared with a revised 0.5% gain in the previous quarter.
(Reporting by Kevin Yao and Joe Cash; Editing by Christopher Cushing)