China's economy expanded steadily in January–April 2026, with industrial output up 5.6%, trade surging 14.9% and unemployment easing, even as a property slump and weak domestic demand weighed on growth.
China's above-scale industrial output grew 4.1% year-on-year in April, NBS data showed May 18, with electronics surging 15.6% and autos up 9.2%, while cement and steel output declined.