【新华解读】4月份主要经济指标走势彰显中国经济之“稳”

Economic Performance - In April, China's industrial added value increased by 6.1% year-on-year, and retail sales of consumer goods rose by 5.1% year-on-year, indicating stable economic performance despite external pressures [1][3] - Fixed asset investment (excluding rural households) grew by 4.0% year-on-year from January to April, showing a slight decline of 0.2 percentage points compared to the first quarter, but remaining at a relatively high level [3][4] Employment and Prices - The urban unemployment rate in April was 5.1%, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the previous month, marking two consecutive months of decline [4] - The core Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.5% year-on-year in April, maintaining the same growth rate as in March [4] Policy Support - The stability in China's economy is attributed to effective counter-cyclical policies, including an increase in the fiscal deficit ratio and the issuance of special bonds to stimulate consumption and investment [5][6] - Retail sales in categories related to the consumption upgrade policy contributed 1.4 percentage points to the overall growth of retail sales in April [5] Industrial and Trade Resilience - China's industrial base is robust, with the manufacturing sector maintaining its position as the world's largest for 15 consecutive years, which supports economic stability amid external shocks [6][7] - From January to April, exports of electromechanical products increased by 9.5% year-on-year, reflecting the competitiveness of China's upgraded industrial products in international markets [7] Future Outlook - Experts suggest that while the economy shows resilience, the foundation for recovery needs to be solidified due to ongoing uncertainties in the international environment [8][9] - There is a consensus on the need for stronger government macroeconomic policies to stimulate domestic demand and investment, which are crucial for sustaining economic growth [9][10]