China's growth set to slow to 6.3% in 2019, more stimulus on cards - Reuters poll

According to the latest Reuters poll published on Thursday, China’s economic growth is seen slowing down further in 2019 amid dwindling domestic demand and exports growth.

Key Findings:

“China’s economic growth is expected to slow to 6.3 percent this year, which would be the weakest in 29 years, from an expected 6.6 percent in 2018.

The economy expanded 6.9 percent in 2017.

Both forecasts were unchanged from the October poll.

Reuters polled 85 economists.”

On further Chinese stimulus:

“China watchers widely expect Beijing to roll out more stimulus in coming months to avert a sharper slowdown.

Analysts expect another 150 basis points (bps) of cuts in banks’ reserve requirement ratio by the end of this year, on top of 100 bps announced this month. That is more than expected in the last poll in October.

It is expected to keep its benchmark lending rate unchanged at 4.35 percent through this year.

The poll also predicted annual consumer inflation to be more muted at 2.3 percent in 2019, cooling from the 2.4 percent estimated in the October survey.”