如何让物价合理回升：难点在哪里

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the challenges and strategies for achieving a reasonable recovery in prices in China, emphasizing the importance of stabilizing economic growth and employment as key policy goals [1][2]. Group 1: Price Trends and Economic Context - The current cycle of low prices in China began in 2012, with PPI entering negative territory and CPI fluctuating between 0-1% since 2022, raising concerns about economic stability [2][5]. - From May 2012, China's PPI diverged from that of Europe and the US, remaining negative for over four years until October 2016, primarily due to structural issues in the economy and a decline in global commodity prices [2][5]. - The increase in China's manufacturing value added as a percentage of global totals from 8.6% in 2004 to 22.3% in 2012 has contributed to an oversupply of goods, while the population share has been declining [2][5]. Group 2: Government Policies and Economic Reforms - In response to diminishing policy stimulus effects post-2012, local governments increased debt levels from 16.3% in 2011 to 23.9% in 2015, leading to an oversupply in the market and necessitating supply-side structural reforms [5][7]. - The years 2016-2017 saw significant supply-side reforms aimed at reducing excess capacity in key sectors like steel and coal, which were identified as major contributors to the prolonged low PPI [5][7]. Group 3: Recent Economic Challenges - The trade tensions initiated by the US in 2018 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 further exacerbated the situation, leading to a renewed decline in PPI as domestic demand weakened [7][10]. - The current downturn in PPI since October 2022 is marked by a shift from household balance sheet expansion to contraction, indicating a downturn in the real estate sector, which has compounded the issues of oversupply and insufficient demand [10][13]. Group 4: Structural Issues and Future Outlook - The article highlights that the persistent low inflation reflects deeper structural, cyclical, and systemic issues within the economy, necessitating a comprehensive approach to fiscal policy and income distribution reform [13][35]. - The need for targeted fiscal measures to boost consumer demand and stabilize the real estate market is emphasized, as these are critical for achieving a reasonable price recovery [35][50]. - The article concludes that merely relying on monetary policy will not suffice; a strategic overhaul of fiscal spending and income distribution is essential to address the underlying issues of low consumer demand and economic stagnation [53][54].