0644 GMT - China's 2026 GDP growth is likely to slow to 4.6%, ING economist Lynn Song writes in a note. China will likely target growth of around 5% next year to get off to a strong start for the new five-year plan, he says. The odds of the goal being softened to above 4.5% are increasing, he says, adding that China hasn't left its growth target unchanged for more than three consecutive years since 2011. The overarching problem of China's economy is that domestic confidence indicators remain weak, he adds. This is likely tied to the continued downturn in the property market, as well as years of cost-cutting that led to wage cuts and layoffs, he says. Stimulus might prove less potent without addressing these core issues, he adds. (jiahui.huang@wsj.com; @ivy_jiahuihuang)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 04, 2025 01:44 ET (06:44 GMT)

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