China's GDP Grows 5% in Q1 2026, Exceeds Expectations

China's GDP grew 5% in Q1 2026, according to data from the National Statistics Bureau, accelerating from 4.5% in the previous quarter and surpassing the 4.8% expectation by economists. Urban fixed-asset investment rose 1.7% year-over-year but fell short of the anticipated 1.9%. China's exports increased by 14.7% in the first quarter but slowed to 2.5% in March due to rising energy and logistics costs stemming from geopolitical conflicts. The mixed growth indicators suggest that while manufacturing remains strong, consumption is lagging, creating potential challenges for market stability.