China's economy grows 4.5 per cent in the third quarter on strong exports

China's GDP grew 4.5 per cent from a year earlier in July to September, up from 4.3 per cent in April to June, official figures released Monday show.

Trade surplus, January to September

938 billion US$

Exports of chips and other tech goods drove growth, and China is on track to beat last year's record US$1.2-trillion trade surplus.

Weak at home

• Retail sales up 1.1% in September
• Property investment down over 20% in nine months
• Fixed-asset investment down 7.2% in nine months

Demand at home stayed weak: retail sales rose 1.1 per cent in September and property investment fell more than 20 per cent in the first nine months.

“The problem of insufficient domestic demand remains relatively prominent,” said Mao Shengyong, deputy head of China's National Bureau of Statistics.

— Mao Shengyong, National Bureau of Statistics