China economic growth bounces back as consumers spend again

China’s economy grew at the fastest pace in a year in the first quarter as the end of Covid Zero gave way to stronger consumer spending and factory output, a sign the recovery is well on track.

Gross domestic product expanded 4.5% in the January-to-March period from a year prior, data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed Tuesday, faster than the 2.9% pace in the previous quarter and higher economists’ forecasts of 4%.