BEIJING, Jan 17 Reuters China39;s economy grew 5.4 in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, official data showed on Friday, significantly beating analysts39; expectations and enabling the government to meet its annual growth target.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast fourthquarter gross domestic product GDP would expand 5.0 from a year earlier, quickening from the thirdquarter39;s 4.6 pace as a flurry of support measures began to kick in. The quarter39;s growth marked the quickest since the second quarter of 2023.

For the fullyear 2024, the world39;s secondlargest economy grew 5.0, data from the National Bureau of Statistics data showed, meeting the government39;s annual growth target of around 5. Analysts had forecast 4.9 growth.

On a quarterly basis, GDP grew 1.6 in OctoberDecember, compared with a forecast 1.6 increase and a revised 1.3 gain in the previous quarter.

Chinese policymakers have unveiled a blitz of stimulus measures since September last year to revive sputtering growth, and have pledged to do more this year as U.S. Presidentelect Donald Trump, who has proposed hefty tariffs on Chinese goods, is set to return to the White House next week.

Reporting by Kevin Yao; Writing by Ellen Zhang; Editing by Jacqueline Wong

Source Reuters