China's economy grows 3.2%, first economy to rise since coronavirus pandemic
The expansion was a dramatic improvement over the previous quarter’s 6.8 percent contraction
China was the first country shutdown by coronavirus and became the first major economy to report quarterly growth.
The country reported a 3.2 percent expansion in the latest quarter after anti-virus lockdowns were lifted and factories and stores reopened.
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The growth was a dramatic improvement over the previous quarter’s 6.8 percent contraction.
Economists say China is likely to recover faster than some other major economies due to the ruling Communist Party’s decision to impose the most intensive anti-disease measures in history.
Those cut off most access to cities with a total of 60 million people and suspended trade and travel — steps.
Manufacturing and some other industries are almost back to normal. But consumer spending is weak due to fear of possible job losses.
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The government promised in May to spend $280 billion on meeting goals including creating 9 million new jobs. But it has avoided joining the United States and Japan in rolling out stimulus packages of $1 trillion or more due to concern about adding to already high Chinese debt.
China reported 4,634 coronavirus deaths and 83,611 confirmed cases.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism said tourist sites can allow 50 percent of their daily visitor capacity, up from 30 percent, and tours from one province to another can resume.
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In the three months ending in June, factory output rose 4.4 percent, but retail sales shrank by 3.9 percent.
A potential stumbling block is worsening relations with the United States, China’s biggest national export market, over disputes about trade, technology, human rights and Hong Kong.
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The two governments signed an agreement in January to postpone further tariff hikes in their fight over Beijing’s technology ambitions and trade surplus. But most increases already imposed remained in place.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.