China's economy grows 4.6% in Q3, keeping stimulus calls alive

Pedestrians along the Bund across from commercial buildings in Pudong's Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai, China, on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg

BEIJING: China's economy grew slightly quicker than expected in the third quarter, but a prolonged property downturn and weak consumption remain a drag on activity, maintaining pressure on policymakers as they consider more stimulus steps to revitalise growth.

Data released on Friday showed the world's second-largest economy grew 4.6% year-on-year in July-September, beating a 4.5% forecast in a Reuters poll but slowing from 4.7% in the second quarter.