China’s economy has continued to display strong resilience in 2025, supported by structural adjustments, expanding digital industries, and the steady emergence of new growth drivers. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), these strengths position the country well to meet its full-year development goals.
Fresh data for October shows retail sales of consumer goods rose to 4.629 trillion yuan, a 2.9% year-on-year increase, surpassing analysts’ expectations. On a monthly basis, sales edged up 0.16 percent. Over the first ten months of the year, retail sales reached 41.217 trillion yuan, growing 4.3 percent, while online sales surged 9.6 percent, underscoring strong digital consumption trends.
Industrial activity also remained steady. Output from large industrial firms increased 4.9 percent year-on-year in October, with modest month-on-month gains. Fixed asset investment totalled 40.89 trillion yuan in the same period, declining 1.7 percent but reflecting ongoing adjustments in real estate and infrastructure segments.
NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui stated that China’s economic transformation is progressing steadily, with new technologies, platform-based industries, and digital upgrades providing significant momentum. Rapid advancements in AI-driven and intelligent manufacturing continue to elevate high-tech sectors.
Between January and October, the value-added output of China’s digital industry rose 9.5 percent, while smart device manufacturing climbed 11.1 percent, and electronic components manufacturing grew 12.3 percent, reflecting broad-based strength across high-tech production.
Economists note that these expansions help offset pressures faced by traditional industries. Yang Delong of First Seafront Fund said the fast growth of the digital and green economy is laying the groundwork for long-term, high-quality development.
Lian Ping, chief economist at the Guangkai Institute, emphasised China’s overall economic resilience, pointing to 5.2 percent GDP growth in the first three quarters. He highlighted government support, including the 500 billion yuan policy-based financial instrument covering more than 2,300 projects, which is expected to mobilise 7 trillion yuan in investment across AI, digital economy, consumption, and urban renewal.
Fu Linghui reiterated that China retains strong fundamentals, diverse strengths, and large development potential. He called for continued efforts to expand domestic demand, stabilise employment and market expectations, and advance innovation-driven growth.
Global institutions are also becoming increasingly optimistic. Goldman Sachs recently raised its 2025 GDP forecast for China from 4.9% to 5.0%, citing improving export prospects and stronger government spending.
Overall, the combination of policy support, industrial upgrading, and expanding technological capacity continues to anchor confidence in China’s trajectory toward achieving its annual growth targets.
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