|
 Authorities have ruled out major stimulus to fight short-term dips
in growth, and some analysts think the economy will continue to lose
momentum into the middle of the year.
The economy grew 7.4 percent in the January-March quarter from a
year earlier, slightly stronger than the median forecast of 7.3
percent in a Reuters poll but still slowing from 7.7 percent in the
final quarter of 2013.
It was China's slowest annual growth since the third quarter of
2012, when growth was also 7.4 percent.
Economists were split on the outlook, with some predicting that
growth had stabilized and that the government would stand pat on
policy. Others, however, thought that policy loosening was imminent.
"Policymakers seem pretty comfortable with the current pace of
growth," said Julian Evans-Pritchard, an economist at Capital
Economics in Singapore. "I don't think they're going to announce any
further significant measures to support growth."
Beijing has announced some modest measures, such as tax cuts for
small firms and speeding up some investment in rail projects, to try
to steady growth around its target of 7.5 percent without disrupting
plans to restructure the economy.
MIXED MARCH DATA
March activity data, released at the same time as the GDP figures,
showed factory output grew 8.8 percent from a year ago, slightly
below forecasts for 9 percent expansion.
[to top of second column] |
Fixed asset investment rose 17.6 percent in the first three months
of the year, also weaker than forecasts for a 18.1 percent rise.
Retail sales was the only indicator that beat expectations by a
shade with an annual increase of 12.2 percent, compared to
predications for a 12.1 percent gain.
"It's not bad enough to change monetary policy, but forward
indicators suggest that in the next few months we will see more
aggressive easing," said Stephen Green, an economist with Standard
Chartered in Hong Kong.
Figures for March already released have done little to ease concerns
that the economy is losing more momentum.
Exports fell for the second month in a row and imports dropped
sharply in March, while money supply grew at its slowest annual pace
in more than a decade. Official and private surveys also show the
manufacturing sector continuing to struggle.
(Additional reporting by Kevin Yao; editing by John Mair and Mark
Bendeich)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
