China's economy kicks off 2026 with strong start: industrial, consumer, investment growth accelerate

In 2026, China's economy got off to a strong start, with key economic indicators rebounding sharply. Industrial production and consumer spending accelerated significantly, while fixed asset investment turned positive, ending the persistent decline that had continued since September of the previous year.

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on March 16 showed that from January to February, the output of industrial enterprises above designated size nationwide grew by 6.3% year on year, accelerating by 1.1 percentage points from in December of last year. Total retail sales of consumer goods