China’s Slowing Growth Underlines Stress Facing Its Economy in 2020

SHENZHEN, China—A newly sealed trade truce with the U.S. reduced a key source of anxiety for Chinese policy makers but leaves them with another challenge: a need to boost consumer and business confidence as the country faces more downward pressure on its massive economy.

On Friday, Chinese officials said the country emerged from 2019 with an official economic growth of 6.1%—well within the government’s target range of 6% to 6.5% but the lowest level in nearly three decades.