China's Economy Barely Scrapes 5% Growth in 2024, Despite Weakness in Key Sectors

China's National Bureau of Statistics reports a mere 5% growth in 2024, barely meeting government targets amidst a struggling global economy. While consumer goods saw a paltry 3.5 percent increase, higher-performing sectors like hospitality cannot mask the underperformance of key luxury segments. This raises questions about the sustainability of China’s economic policies and its ability to compete on the global stage.