China's economic growth drops to a six-year low
中国经济增长达六年新低
China's economic growth for the first three months of the year could drop to a six-year low.
The GDP numbers for the first quarter will be released on Wednesday, with multiple polls indicating the economy will show a 7 percent growth year-on-year.
That would be its slowest pace since the first quarter of 2009. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, meanwhile, suggests that the number could even be lower than 7 percent.
In any scenario, the performance would however still be in line with the government's growth target of "around 7 percent" for 2015.
To prop up growth, China's central bank has already loosened mortgage restrictions and eased property transaction tax at the end of last month. Economists say more easing and stimulus measures are likely, and that Q2 performance may well see a rebound.