2026年一季度中国经济观察报告-毕马威

Economic Overview - In 2025, China's economy reached a total of 140 trillion yuan, with a real GDP growth of 5.0%, achieving the target set at the beginning of the year. The GDP growth rate for the fourth quarter was 4.5%, down 0.3 percentage points from the third quarter, with external demand being the main support while consumption and investment remained weak [1][15][30] - The economic landscape showed four distinct divergences: supply-demand, internal-external demand, new-old momentum, and macro data versus micro perception. Traditional industries faced demand losses and slow capacity clearance, leading to supply-demand mismatches that affected prices and corporate profits [1][31] Investment Trends - Fixed asset investment in 2025 saw a historic decline of 3.8%, marking the first annual negative growth since records began. In the fourth quarter, investment dropped by 12.8%, significantly worse than the 6.2% decline in the third quarter. Real estate, infrastructure, and manufacturing investments all saw substantial declines [19][50] - The government is expected to implement policies to stabilize and support investment, with a focus on "investing in people" and encouraging private investment. The manufacturing sector is anticipated to see marginal improvements due to the "14th Five-Year Plan" emphasizing technological innovation and industrial upgrades [2][51][60] Consumption Insights - The total retail sales of consumer goods in 2025 grew by 3.7%, with a notable decline of 1.8% in the fourth quarter, marking the first quarterly negative growth since 2023. However, service consumption and self-indulgent consumption showed resilience, with service consumption growth reaching 5.5% [18][37] - The consumption market is expected to continue its shift towards new and quality-driven consumption, with policies aimed at promoting green, intelligent, and elderly-friendly consumption [2][18] Export Performance - Exports in 2025 increased by 5.5%, with a trade surplus of nearly 1.2 trillion USD, a historical high. High-end manufacturing emerged as the core driver of exports, supported by strong demand from ASEAN, Africa, India, and other regions [21][30] - The government aims to address trade imbalances and enhance the quality of exports while navigating the challenges posed by global trade protectionism [21][30] Fiscal Policy - Public fiscal revenue in 2025 decreased by 1.7%, falling short of the initial budget growth target of 0.1%. Public expenditure growth was only 1.0%, the lowest completion rate on record at 96.8% of the budget [22][65] - The government plans to increase fiscal support for infrastructure and social welfare, with a focus on stabilizing investment and consumption in 2026 [22][65] Monetary Policy - In 2025, monetary policy was characterized by moderate easing, with a total of 50 basis points in reserve requirement ratio cuts and 10 basis points in interest rate cuts. The focus for 2026 will be on stabilizing expectations and promoting transformation [23][60] - The central bank is expected to maintain a flexible and effective monetary policy, with potential further cuts in interest rates and reserve requirements to support economic recovery [23][60]