China39;s Q1 GDP growth seen at 4.6, vs Q439;s 5.2
March data likely show factory output, retail sales slowing
Q1 GDP, March data due 0200 GMT on Tuesday
Analysts say more stimulus needed to hit 2024 growth goal

BEIJING, April 15 Reuters China39;s economy is expected to have slowed in the first quarter as a protracted property downturn and weak privatesector confidence weigh on demand, maintaining pressures on policymakers to unveil more stimulus measures.

Data on Tuesday is forecast to show gross domestic product GDP grew 4.6 in JanuaryMarch from a year earlier, slowing from 5.2 in the previous three months and hitting the weakest since the first quarter of 2023, according to a Reuters poll.

The world39;s secondlargest economy has struggled to mount a strong and sustainable a postCOVID bounce, burdened by a protracted property downturn, mounting local government debts and weak privatesector spending.

The government has set a target of around 5 for this year, which has been described by most analysts as ambitious, partly because last year39;s growth rate of 5.2 was likely flattered by a comparison with a COVIDhit 2022.

The economy was off to a solid start this year, fanning optimism among some analysts for an improved 2024 outcome, but March data on exports, consumer inflation and bank lending showed that momentum could falter again and policymakers may need to launch more stimulus to spur demand.

I think Q1 GDP growth could be slightly stronger than expected…