How do regimes sustain public support during economic downturns? Existing research highlights strategies such as falsifying information or deflecting blame for poor economic performance. Examining China’s political communication on its shift in development models, we offer an additional answer to the question. Over the past decade, China has faced significant economic challenges and responded by introducing the High-Quality Development (HQD) model, which acknowledges economic difficulties but seeks to redefine how citizens evaluate the economy. Analyzing data from Chinese state media, we find robust patterns across models that the promotion of HQD is more likely following the release of GDP statistics and during periods of high food prices. To test the causal effect of this strategy, we conducted a survey experiment in which we randomize the exposure of a real official HQD message. Consistent with our theory, exposure to the HQD narrative shifts individuals’ evaluation of the economy from a focus on growth to a vague notion of "quality" and boosts their confidence in the economy despite recognizing its slowdown. Our findings provide fresh insights into how authoritarian regimes employ political communication to manage public perceptions of the economy.