Core Viewpoint - The current positive changes in prices in China are continuing to accumulate, but the consumer price index (CPI) remains low, necessitating efforts to promote a reasonable recovery in prices [1] Group 1: CPI Analysis - In August, the CPI remained flat month-on-month and shifted from stable to a decline year-on-year, primarily due to the high base effect from the previous year [1] - Food prices in August decreased by 4.3% year-on-year, with the decline expanding by 2.7 percentage points compared to the previous month, significantly impacting the CPI [1] - The core CPI, excluding food and energy, increased by 0.9% year-on-year, marking a 0.1 percentage point increase from the previous month and continuing a trend of rising for four consecutive months [1] Group 2: Industrial and Service Prices - Industrial consumer goods prices saw an increase, with a year-on-year rise of 1.5% in August, up by 0.3 percentage points from the previous month, driven by improved supply and demand [2] - Prices for household appliances and entertainment durable goods rose by 4.6% and 2.4% respectively, contributing approximately 0.09 percentage points to the CPI [2] - Service prices increased by 0.6% year-on-year in August, with a 0.1 percentage point rise from the previous month, influenced by increased demand for high-quality social services [2] - Medical and educational service prices rose by 1.6% and 1.2% respectively, while transportation rental and tourism prices increased by 0.8% and 0.7% [2] Group 3: Future Outlook - The market supply-demand relationship remains prominent, and the consumer price level is still low, indicating the need for continued efforts to expand domestic demand and implement consumption-boosting initiatives [2]

Economic Overview - In August, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained flat month-on-month, with a year-on-year decrease of 0.4%, influenced by high base effects from the previous year [2][3] - Food prices increased by 0.5% month-on-month, while non-food prices decreased by 0.1% [2] Year-on-Year Analysis - The year-on-year decline in CPI was primarily due to a 4.3% drop in food prices, with significant decreases in pork, fresh vegetables, and eggs, all exceeding 10% [3] - Core CPI, excluding food and energy, rose by 0.9% year-on-year, marking an increase for four consecutive months, driven by rising industrial consumer goods and service prices [3][4] Industrial Consumer Goods - Industrial consumer goods prices, excluding energy, increased by 1.5% year-on-year, with notable price rises in household appliances and entertainment durable goods [4] - The price increase in industrial consumer goods is attributed to improved supply-demand dynamics and policies promoting consumption upgrades [4] Service Prices - Service prices rose by 0.6% year-on-year, supported by increased demand for high-quality social services and tourism during the summer [5] - Key service sectors such as medical and educational services saw price increases of 1.6% and 1.2%, respectively, indicating a steady upward trend in service pricing [5] Future Outlook - The government aims to continue expanding domestic demand and implementing consumption-boosting initiatives to promote reasonable price recovery [5]

Core Insights - The core CPI has expanded for three consecutive months, primarily due to the implementation of consumption-boosting initiatives and the regulation of corporate competition [1][2] - In July, the national consumer price index remained flat year-on-year, with a month-on-month increase of 0.4%, indicating a low operating trend for the year [1] - The core CPI, excluding food and energy prices, rose by 0.8% year-on-year in July, with the growth rate increasing by 0.1 percentage points from the previous month [1] Economic Factors - The implementation of consumption-boosting initiatives has gradually released the potential for goods and services consumption, enhancing price momentum [1] - The steady progress in building a unified domestic market has curbed disorderly low-price competition among enterprises, contributing to price recovery [1] Price Structure - Both industrial consumer goods prices and service prices have shown stable increases, driving the expansion of the core CPI [1] - In July, industrial consumer goods prices, excluding energy, rose by 1.2% year-on-year, marking three consecutive months of growth [1] - Service prices increased by 0.5% year-on-year, surpassing the CPI growth rate, and have been on the rise since March [1] - The prices of gold and platinum jewelry increased significantly in July, by 37.1% and 27.3% year-on-year, respectively, contributing to the rise in core CPI [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recovery of core CPI in China, highlighting a 0.7% year-on-year increase in June, the highest in 14 months, driven by rising prices of durable goods and summer travel demand [4][5]. Group 1: Core CPI Trends - Core CPI has shown continuous recovery since February, with a 0.7% year-on-year increase in June, marking a 0.1 percentage point rise from the previous month [4][5]. - The main drivers for this recovery include the rising prices of gold jewelry, the "trade-in" policy supporting durable goods prices, and a moderate rebound in service prices [5][7]. Group 2: Gold Prices and Their Impact - Gold prices have been experiencing short-term fluctuations, with a significant year-on-year increase of 41.3% in June and a cumulative rise of 38.3% from January to June [7]. - The increase in gold prices has contributed approximately 0.21 percentage points to the CPI increase, with gold and platinum jewelry prices rising by 39.2% and 15.9% respectively [7]. Group 3: Durable Goods Price Trends - Durable goods prices are expected to rise initially before experiencing a slight decline, influenced by the "trade-in" policy and the early release of demand [11]. - The "trade-in" policy has led to a reduction in the year-on-year decline of prices for automobiles and home appliances, with subsidies exceeding 155 billion yuan in the first five months of the year [11]. Group 4: Service Price Recovery - Service prices have shown signs of recovery, with a 0.5% year-on-year increase in June, supported by high travel demand during holidays [14]. - However, the momentum for service price recovery may slow down due to pressures in the job market, particularly for recent graduates, which could affect rental prices [14].

Group 1: Core CPI Trends - Core CPI has shown continuous recovery since February, with a year-on-year increase of 0.7% in June, marking a 0.1 percentage point rise from the previous month and the highest in nearly 14 months[1] - The increase in gold prices, the "old-for-new" policy supporting durable goods prices, and a moderate recovery in service prices are the main drivers of the core CPI's sustained recovery[1] - In the third quarter, core CPI is expected to continue rising due to support from durable consumer goods and summer travel demand, while a slight decline may occur in the fourth quarter[1] Group 2: Gold Prices and Durable Goods - Gold prices have been fluctuating at a high level, with a year-on-year increase of 41.3% in June and a cumulative increase of 38.3% from January to June[1] - The contribution of gold and platinum jewelry prices to the core CPI's year-on-year growth is estimated at approximately 0.29 percentage points, accounting for nearly half of the June core CPI increase[1] - Durable goods prices are expected to rise initially due to the "old-for-new" policy but may experience a slight decline later in the year due to early demand release and high base effects[1] Group 3: Service Prices and Employment Impact - Service prices have shown a year-on-year increase of 0.5% in June, with a cumulative growth of 0.4% from January to June[1] - The rental market is influenced by the youth unemployment rate, which has improved, leading to a narrowing of rental price declines, thus supporting core CPI recovery[1] - The upcoming graduation season, with an estimated 12.22 million graduates, may increase pressure on the job market, potentially slowing the recovery of rental prices in the second half of the year[1]

Group 1: Core CPI Trends - Core CPI has shown continuous recovery since February, with a year-on-year increase of 0.7% in June, marking a 0.1 percentage point rise from the previous month and the highest in nearly 14 months[1] - The increase in gold prices, the "old-for-new" policy supporting durable goods prices, and a moderate recovery in service prices are the main drivers of the core CPI recovery[1] - In the third quarter, core CPI growth is expected to continue rising due to support from durable consumer goods and summer travel demand, but a slight decline may occur in the fourth quarter[1] Group 2: Gold Prices and Durable Goods - Gold prices have been on an upward trend, with a year-on-year increase of 41.3% in June and a cumulative increase of 38.3% from January to June[1] - The contribution of gold and platinum jewelry prices to the core CPI year-on-year growth is estimated at approximately 0.29 percentage points, nearly half of the June core CPI growth[1] - Durable goods prices are expected to rise initially due to the "old-for-new" policy but may see a slight decline later in the year due to early demand release and high base effects[1] Group 3: Service Prices and Employment Impact - Service prices have shown recovery, with a year-on-year increase of 0.5% in June and a cumulative growth of 0.4% from January to June[1] - The rental market is influenced by youth unemployment rates, with a correlation between rental demand and employment conditions, particularly for recent graduates[1] - The upcoming graduation season, with an estimated 12.22 million graduates, may increase pressure on the job market and slow the recovery of rental prices in the second half of the year[1]

Core Viewpoint - The inflation data for June shows a divergence between CPI and PPI, with CPI rising slightly while PPI continues to decline, indicating a mixed economic environment influenced by various commodity prices [2][8][69]. Group 1: Divergence in Commodity Prices - In June, PPI fell by 0.3 percentage points to -3.6% year-on-year, primarily due to declining prices of upstream commodities like coal and steel, while CPI increased by 0.1% year-on-year, supported by rising food prices and platinum [2][9][69]. - The decline in PPI was driven by oversupply in sectors such as steel, cement, and coal, which contributed to a 0.4% month-on-month decrease, while international oil prices provided some support to PPI, contributing positively from oil and copper prices [2][9][69]. Group 2: Core Commodity PPI and CPI Trends - Core commodity PPI remains at historical lows, reflecting the impact of tariffs and low capacity utilization in domestic downstream industries, with a slight recovery of 0.4 percentage points to -1% year-on-year [3][21][70]. - In contrast, core commodity CPI increased by 0.3 percentage points to 0.6% year-on-year, driven by consumer stimulus policies that have bolstered domestic demand, particularly in durable goods and household items [3][27][70]. Group 3: Service CPI Performance - Service CPI remained stable at 0.5% year-on-year, with core service CPI also holding steady at 0.8%, while rental prices showed weakness, with a month-on-month increase of only 0.1% [4][30][61]. - The overall demand for services has remained stable, but the rental component, which is a significant part of the service CPI, has not performed as well compared to previous years [4][30][61]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The combination of policy measures and recovery in domestic demand is expected to alleviate inflationary pressures, but significant downward pressure on commodity prices is anticipated in the second half of the year, with PPI expected to underperform CPI [4][35][70]. - Factors such as tariff disturbances, low global oil inventories, and weakened investment in real estate and manufacturing are likely to constrain commodity prices, while low capacity utilization in downstream sectors will continue to suppress PPI recovery [4][35][70].

Core Viewpoint - The inflation data for June shows a divergence between CPI and PPI, with CPI rising slightly while PPI continues to decline, indicating mixed performance in commodity, core goods, and service prices [2][8][69]. Group 1: Divergence in Commodity Prices - In June, PPI fell by 0.3 percentage points to -3.6% year-on-year, primarily due to falling prices of upstream commodities like coal and steel, while CPI saw a slight increase of 0.1% year-on-year, driven by extreme weather affecting food supply [2][9][69]. - The decline in PPI was influenced by sufficient supply in steel, cement, and coal, which contributed to a 0.4% month-on-month drop, while rising international oil prices provided some support to PPI [2][9][69]. - CPI's increase was supported by a 12.6% rise in platinum jewelry prices, contributing to a 0.8 percentage point increase in the CPI for other goods and services [2][9][69]. Group 2: Core Goods Price Trends - Core goods PPI remains at historical lows, reflecting the impact of tariffs and low capacity utilization in domestic downstream industries, with a slight recovery of 0.4 percentage points to -1% year-on-year [3][21][70]. - The pressure on prices in high-export industries, such as computer communications and electrical machinery, continues, with respective declines of 0.4% and 0.2% [3][21][70]. - Conversely, core goods CPI increased by 0.3 percentage points to 0.6% year-on-year, driven by consumer stimulus policies, with notable price increases in durable goods and household textiles [3][21][70]. Group 3: Service Price Dynamics - Service CPI remained stable at 0.5% year-on-year, with core service CPI also holding steady at 0.8% [4][30][61]. - The virtual rent CPI, which is a significant component of service CPI, showed weakness, with a month-on-month increase of only 0.1%, below the historical average [4][30][61]. - The overall stability in service demand contrasts with the weaker performance of rent prices, indicating ongoing challenges in the housing market [4][30][61]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The combination of policy measures and recovery in domestic demand is expected to alleviate inflationary pressures, although significant downward pressure on commodity prices is anticipated in the second half of the year [4][35][70]. - Factors such as tariff disturbances, low global oil supply, and weakened investment in real estate and manufacturing are likely to constrain commodity prices further [4][35][70]. - The low capacity utilization in downstream sectors, particularly in private enterprises, is expected to hinder PPI recovery, with projections indicating continued weakness in PPI compared to CPI [4][35][70].

Economic Overview - In May, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) experienced a slight year-on-year decline of 0.1% and a month-on-month decrease of 0.2%, indicating stable economic performance despite the drop [1][2] - The decline in CPI was primarily influenced by international input factors and falling food prices, with energy prices being a significant contributor [1][2] Energy Prices - International energy prices decreased, leading to a reduction in domestic prices for gasoline and related consumer goods. The energy prices in the CPI fell by 1.7% month-on-month, contributing approximately 0.13 percentage points to the overall CPI decline [1] - Year-on-year, energy prices dropped by 6.1%, impacting the CPI by about 0.47 percentage points [1] Food Prices - The availability of fresh food items, such as vegetables and poultry, increased, resulting in a decline in food prices. Month-on-month, food prices fell by 0.2%, contributing around 0.04 percentage points to the CPI decrease [2] - Year-on-year, food prices decreased by 0.4%, with a more significant decline compared to the previous month [2] Core CPI and Industrial Prices - The core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose by 0.6% year-on-year, reflecting a gradual strengthening of domestic demand [2][3] - Prices of industrial consumer goods, excluding energy, also increased by 0.6% year-on-year, with notable price rises in entertainment durable goods like mobile phones and computers, which saw a 1.8% increase [2] Service Prices - Service prices increased by 0.5% year-on-year, driven by holiday demand and a rise in educational and cultural services. Notable increases included airfare and tourism prices, which rose by 1.2% and 0.9%, respectively [3] - Prices for household and educational services also saw increases of 1.7% and 1.2% [3] Policy Implications - The current price situation requires a comprehensive perspective, recognizing the positive effects of policies aimed at expanding domestic demand and promoting reasonable price recovery [3] - Future strategies should focus on balancing domestic demand expansion with supply-side structural reforms to improve market price order and enhance supply-demand relationships [3]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that Japan's household spending is weak, leading to a potential delay in interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan [1] - Household spending in April decreased by 0.1% compared to the same month last year, while inflation-adjusted wages fell by 1.8% [1] - Analysts suggest that even if wages continue to rise, households may take time to rebuild their savings due to the current economic conditions [1] Group 2 - The Bank of Japan is closely monitoring service prices, which are currently low, influencing their decision on interest rate adjustments [1] - There is a possibility that the Bank of Japan may postpone interest rate hikes for a year or longer due to the weak spending and savings trends [1]