Beijing – China’s first quarter data will be released in around two weeks and the news may not be the best. Analysts predict GDP growth in the quarter to ease to 7.2 percent.

That forecast is based on the previous two months’ weak figures, including investment, consumption and industrial data.

Wang Jun of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges expects GDP will be 7.2 or 7.3 percent but the consumer price inflation could stay above 2.5 percent.

Most economists agree on the first quarter’s downward trend but are split on whether this means policy stimulus in the next few months. Source: CCTV