UBS: China GDP to grow 6.8% in 2015

Wang Tao, chief China economist with UBS AG, said on Monday that China's economic growth may fall to 6.8 percent in 2015, mainly dragged by continuous recession in property market.

With a prediction for a GDP growth in the third quarter at 7.1 percent 6.9 percent in fourth quarter, Wang said this year's final GDP growth will be at 7.2 percent.

Chinese economy expanded by 7.4 percent in the first half. The government has set this year's growth target at 7.5 percent.

"This year's 7.2 percent GDP growth can be considered as having basically achieved this goal. The Premier Li Keqiang has repeatedly said that the lower growth does not matter, because our employment situation is good." Wang said.

The economic downturn is mainly due to the cooling property market at the moment which may be extended to next year. Wang said the government may issue more policies, including loosening the credit policy and lowering the ratio of down payment, but it may fail to reverse the downward trend.

Property sales may fall by another 10 to 15 percent in 2015, she said.

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