7月经济数据点评：消费还有哪些潜在空间？

Economic Overview - In July, industrial added value increased by 5.7% year-on-year, down from 6.8% in June, while the service production index rose by 5.8%[1] - External demand showed unexpected strength with exports growing by 7.2%, surpassing the expected 5.9%, while internal demand weakened with retail sales increasing by only 3.7% compared to 4.8% in June[1] Consumer Trends - Retail sales growth declined from 6.4% in May to 4.8% in June and further to 3.7% in July, primarily driven by a slowdown in goods sales[1] - The sales growth of "trade-in" subsidy products fell from an average of 17.5% to 12.7%, indicating a significant impact on overall retail performance[1] Investment Insights - Fixed asset investment growth dropped from 2.6% in June to 1.6% in July, with construction investment showing negative growth for the first time since August 2020, at -0.8%[1] - Manufacturing investment growth decreased from 7.5% in June to 6.2% in July, highlighting a divergence in investment performance across different sectors[2] Future Outlook - Despite potential pressures in Q4 due to high base effects and demand front-loading, there are three supporting factors for consumer growth in the second half of the year: gradual recovery in dining growth, the release of childbirth subsidies, and consumer loan interest subsidies[1] - The construction sector is expected to face continued pressure in August due to adverse weather conditions, but policy-driven financial tools may provide support in Q4[2]