Overview - The core viewpoint of the article is that China's economy is facing challenges from tariffs and low demand, but is showing signs of stabilization with a projected GDP growth rate of 5.3% for the first half of the year, and a 5.2% growth in Q2, indicating a slight decline from Q1 [1][4]. Economic Performance - In Q2, the supply-demand imbalance deepened, with external demand growth significantly outpacing domestic production and consumption. Exports grew by 7.4% year-on-year, while retail sales and investment grew by 5.4% and 1.8%, respectively [4][6]. - The nominal GDP growth rate fell to 3.9%, with the actual GDP growth rate exceeding it by 1.3 percentage points, indicating increasing pressure from low prices [6][8]. - Economic data in June showed a slowdown in growth across most sectors compared to April and May, with industrial value-added growth rising to 6.8% but retail sales growth declining to 4.8% [9][10]. Consumption Trends - Retail sales growth in June was 4.8%, below market expectations, primarily due to a sharp decline in restaurant consumption, which dropped by 5 percentage points to 0.9% [11][12]. - Non-subsidized goods saw a significant decline in growth, while subsidized categories like home appliances experienced a nearly 20% drop in growth, reflecting weakened consumer demand [11][12]. - The outlook for Q3 suggests a potential increase in consumption growth due to a lower base effect, but consumer confidence remains fragile [16]. Fixed Asset Investment - Fixed asset investment growth slowed to 2.8% in June, with infrastructure and manufacturing investments declining by 1.5 and 1 percentage points, respectively [17][18]. - Real estate investment continued to decline, with sales area and amount dropping by 5.5% and 10.8%, respectively, indicating ongoing pressure in the property market [18][19]. - Infrastructure investment growth reached its lowest levels of the year, with a significant drop in fiscal revenue impacting project financing [21][23]. Trade and Exports - In June, both export and import growth rates increased, with a trade surplus of $114.77 billion, up 16% year-on-year. Exports to the U.S. saw a notable recovery, with a decline of only 16.1% compared to a previous drop of 34.5% [26][27]. - The overall trade environment remains resilient, although there are concerns about future export growth as the "rush to export" effect diminishes [26]. Industrial Production - Industrial production accelerated in June, with a year-on-year growth of 6.8%, supported by easing U.S.-China tariffs and the effectiveness of new policies [27][28]. - Despite the growth, the industrial sales rate declined to 94.3%, indicating increased competitive pressure on enterprises [27]. Inflation and Price Pressure - Inflation showed divergence, with CPI rising to 0.1% after four months of negative growth, while PPI fell to -3.6%, reflecting significant price pressures in various sectors [32][33]. - The outlook for inflation remains challenging, with potential for a slow recovery in prices due to ongoing supply-demand imbalances [32]. Future Outlook - The economic outlook for Q3 indicates challenges from insufficient effective demand and low price pressures, but GDP growth may still be supported by policy measures and a lower base effect [34].
【招银研究|宏观点评】韧性生长,迎难而上——中国经济数据点评(2025年二季度及6月)
招商银行研究·2025-07-15 10:46