Where this was said
China Posts Slowest GDP Growth in Three Years
At 1:59 · chapter starts 1:42
The bulletin pivots to an economic story from Asia. China announced second-quarter growth of just over 4%, the weakest performance in more than three years and below Beijing's own full-year target. [1] — Danny Vincent "China's economy grew just over 4% in Q2 2026, the slowest pace in more than three years. While export booms in AI goods and electric vehicl…" 01:44 NPR's Danny Vincent, reporting from Hong Kong, contextualises the figure: in March, Beijing had already set its annual growth target at 4.5–5%, the least ambitious goal since 1991, signalling that leadership was bracing for headwinds. Those headwinds are partly external — the war in Iran has pushed up oil prices — and partly domestic. A surge in exports, buoyed by global demand for AI-related goods and Chinese electric vehicles, helped prop up the headline number. But behind the scenes, consumer spending stayed weak, with young people across the country struggling to find work — a pattern that has become a structural challenge for the Chinese economy.
China's second-quarter economic growth came in at just over 4%, the slowest rate in more than three years, falling below Beijing's full-year target.
China's economy grew just over 4% in Q2 2026, the slowest pace in more than three years. While export booms in AI goods and electric vehicles offered partial support, youth unemployment and weak domestic demand exposed deep structural cracks — and Beijing's own target is now the least ambitious since 1991.
In March, China lowered its annual growth target to between 4.5–5%, the least ambitious target since 1991.
The Department of Homeland Security announced it would pause conducting traffic stops as part of its immigration enforcement crackdown.
Two men died during immigration enforcement traffic stops — one in Maine, one in Texas — and neither was the intended target. DHS has now paused all such stops, with border czar Tom Homan ordering a review of ICE officer training, while no video evidence has been presented to support the agency's claims about the men.
