According to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on the 16th, preliminary calculations show that the gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter was 296299 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.3% at constant prices, and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 1.6% over the fourth quarter of last year.

Sheng Laiyun, deputy director of the National Bureau of Statistics, said that on the whole, the national economy had a good start in the first quarter, and the accumulation of positive factors increased, laying a good foundation for achieving the goals and tasks for the whole year.

On April 16, the Information Office of the State Council held a press conference in Beijing, at which Sheng Laiyun, deputy director of the National Bureau of Statistics, introduced the operation of the national economy in the first quarter of 2024 and answered questions from reporters. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Xin

Statistics show that the situation of agricultural production is good, industrial production is growing rapidly, and the growth trend of the service industry is relatively good. In the first quarter, the added value of agriculture (planting) increased by 3.8 percent year-on-year, the added value of industries above designated size increased by 6.1 percent year-on-year, and the added value of the service industry increased by 5.0 percent year-on-year.

On March 19, a self-propelled unmanned plant protection aircraft carried out weeding operations at an unmanned farm in Shuanglou Village, Zhaoqiao Township, Qiaocheng District, Bozhou City, Anhui Province (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Du Yu

On April 1, in the VOYAH automotive electrified welding workshop located in the Economic Development Zone of Wuhan City, Hubei Province, robots worked on the assembly line. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu

Market sales grew steadily, and investment in fixed assets rose steadily. In the first quarter, the total retail sales of consumer goods 120327 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.7%. Investment in fixed assets (excluding rural households) increased by 4.5 percent year-on-year, 1.5 percentage points faster than that of the previous year, and investment in fixed assets increased by 9.3 percent after deducting investment in real estate development.

Workers work on the Hainan Center project in Haikou City on April 12 (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Guanyu

The import and export of goods grew steadily, and the trade structure continued to be optimized. In the first quarter, the total import and export value of goods was 101693 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.0%. Among them, exports were 5,737.8 billion yuan, up by 4.9 percent, and imports were 4,431.5 billion yuan, up by 5.0 percent. Imports and exports offset each other, with a trade surplus of 1,306.3 billion yuan.

Cargo ships load and unload containers at the Shandong port of Qingdao on March 13 (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ziheng

Consumer prices are generally stable, and the employment situation is generally stable. In the first quarter, the national consumer price index (CPI) was flat year-on-year, and the average surveyed urban unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, down 0.3 percentage points from the same period last year.

On April 9, job seekers communicated with representatives of the recruiter at the joint job fair. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Tao

The income of residents has grown steadily, and the income of rural residents has grown faster than that of urban residents. In the first quarter, the per capita disposable income of residents nationwide was 11,539 yuan, a nominal increase of 6.2 percent year-on-year, and a real increase of 6.2 percent after deducting price factors. In terms of permanent residence, the per capita disposable income of urban residents increased by 5.3 percent in nominal terms and 5.3 percent in real terms, while the per capita disposable income of rural residents increased by 7.6 percent in nominal terms and 7.7 percent in real terms.

On April 11, a customer buys vegetables at a supermarket in Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Wu Sandong)

Tea farmers pick tea at Hengxi Tea Garden, Yinzhou District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, April 7 (drone photo). Xinhua News Agency (photo by Hu Xuejun)

Sheng Laiyun, deputy director of the National Bureau of Statistics, said at the press conference of the State Council Information Office held on the same day that while the national economy has achieved reasonable growth in quantity, it has also achieved effective qualitative improvement, and new progress has been made in high-quality development. In the next stage, it is necessary to intensify the implementation of macroeconomic policies, consolidate and enhance the positive trend of economic rebound, and continue to promote the effective improvement of the quality and reasonable growth of the economy.

On March 20, a train on the Xicheng high-speed rail line passed through Yangchun Town, Nanzheng District, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Shao Rui

Reporter: Sun Qing, Youzhixi

Editors: Wu Weiling, He Li

Production: Xinhua FM Studio

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