Economic Outlook - Goldman Sachs projects China's real GDP growth to reach 4.8% in 2026, surpassing the market consensus of 4.5% [1] - Structural challenges such as weak consumer spending and a sluggish labor market persist, although the drag from the declining real estate market is expected to lessen [1] - The firm anticipates that increased exports and a reduction in the negative impact of the real estate sector will lead to a faster-than-expected economic growth this year [1] Trade and Inflation - The forecast for Producer Price Index (PPI) inflation is -0.7%, slightly better than the consensus expectation of -1.0% [2] - The PPI has been in deflation for over three years, prompting the government to implement "anti-involution" policies to curb price competition among manufacturers [2] - Goldman Sachs expects the current account surplus to rise from 3.6% of GDP in 2025 to 4.2% in 2026, contrary to the consensus prediction of a decline to 2.5% [2] Export Dynamics - The resilience of Chinese exports is attributed to three factors: rapid expansion of exports to emerging markets, limited ability of other countries to impose trade barriers against China in key mineral sectors, and greater growth potential in high-tech exports [5] - The firm predicts that export prices, measured in USD, will turn positive in 2026, increasing from -2.7% last year to 0.7% [6] Consumer and Labor Market - The labor market in China has been weak, with employment indices at their lowest levels in a decade, and nominal wage growth expected to slow to 3.8% year-on-year by Q3 2025 [7] - Targeted government policies are anticipated in 2026 to alleviate labor market pressures and support income growth, including subsidies for labor-intensive services and increased minimum wages [7] - Despite a forecasted slowdown in household consumption growth, government consumption is expected to accelerate, balancing the overall contribution of consumption to GDP growth [7] Real Estate Market - The Chinese real estate sector is in its fifth year of decline, with most activity indicators down by 50%-80% from peak levels in 2020-2021 [8] - There are no signs of stabilization in the real estate market, with high housing inventory and severe financing conditions for major developers [11] - Goldman Sachs predicts that the drag from the real estate sector on GDP growth will decrease by 0.5 percentage points annually, although it will still negatively impact growth in the coming years [11] Risks to Growth Outlook - The growth forecast faces slight downward risks due to weaker-than-expected momentum and a lack of urgency for significant policy easing from decision-makers [12] - Potential risks include renewed tensions in US-China relations, increased trade barriers from major trading partners, and intensified financial pressures on local governments and banks [12]
高盛观点 | 2026年中国宏观经济展望