China's National Bureau of Statistics canceled the quarterly GDP data release on Monday a provided no explanation or a new release date days after their customs agency stopped the release of China's monthly trade data in the same manner.

The move may have signaled weakness for China's outlook. It is extremely rare for these reports to be delayed, let alone from the world's second-largest economy.

Public access to economic data and reports has decreased in the past year, with some of the reports being removed entirely from the record. Other reports have been retracted and this continues to bring into question the transparency of economic data in China.

The deputy head of China's National Development and Reform Commission stated Monday that the Chinese economy saw growth in the third quarter. Zhao Chenxin's statement is at odds with the independent analysis from researchers and analysts over the past years.

China's economic growth had slowed to 6.2% in 2019 before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of zero-Covid policies.

The World Bank had forecasted that China's GDP will fall to 2.8% in 2022, while the OECD warned that China's GDP is expected to drop to 3.2%. In comparison, the Chinese government predicted that their annual GDP would reach 5.5% in 2022 and return to pre-pandemic levels in 2023.

Conditions in China's housing market have deteriorated with property developers defaulting on debts. The technology sector has seen widespread unemployment and factories have been shut down due to zero-COVID lockdowns and outbreaks.

Hao Hong, chief economist of Grow Investment Group, told the Wall Street Journal that "the environment will only become tighter" for the Chinese economy and stock market.

Deputy head Zhao claimed otherwise in a news conference.

"Globally China's economic performance also remains outstanding. Consumer prices have risen modestly, in sharp contrast to the high global inflation, and employment remained generally stable," he said at a news conference.

All of this has occurred amid President Xi Jinping's expected third-term confirmation at the Communist Party's congress in Beijing. President Xi has stated a goal of doubling the Chinese economy.

China