China's slowest growth in decades hits 5% as property crisis deepens

China's economy grew just 5% in 2025—the slowest pace in decades—official data released Monday shows. The figure meets Beijing's low-ball target but masks weak domestic demand and a property sector debt crisis that's dragging down the economy. Last quarter growth was even slower at 4.5%, while retail sales slumped to 3.7% for the year, with December posting the weakest 0.9% growth since 2022. National Bureau of Statistics official Kang Yi admitted "the impact of changes in the external environment has deepened" and "the domestic contradiction of strong supply and weak demand is prominent." While officials announced continued consumption subsidies including a trade-in scheme for household appliances in 2026, analysts warn the numbers overstate economic strength. Property investment plunged 17.2% annually, and fixed-asset investments shrank 3.8% as China rebalances from decades of infrastructure spending. Exports remain a rare bright spot despite Trump's trade war—China's surplus hit a record $1.2 trillion, with shipments to Southeast Asia up 13.4% and Africa surging 25.8%, offsetting a 20% drop in US exports. Manufacturing activity ticked up slightly to 50.1 in December, but with consumer sentiment still jittery, growth this year is expected to be softer than 2025. For Nigerian businesses and investors, China's slowdown signals reduced global demand and potentially lower commodity prices, affecting export revenues and trade partnerships.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/01/19/chinas-2025-economic-growth-among-slowest-in-decades/