Economic Performance Overview - As of July 28, 2025, 31 provinces (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) reported their economic performance for the first half of the year, with significant growth in major economic provinces, although some provinces experienced fluctuations in their economic data [1] - Among the top eight economic provinces, all except Guangdong achieved GDP growth rates exceeding the national average of 5.3%, with growth rates of 5.6% and above [1][2] - Guangdong's GDP growth rate was 4.2%, ranking it among the bottom three provinces [1] Provincial GDP Growth - In the first half of 2025, 21 provinces exceeded their annual GDP growth targets set at the beginning of the year, indicating a solid foundation for achieving their full-year goals [1] - Notably, Tibet, Gansu, and Hubei had the highest GDP growth rates, all above 6% [2] - Hubei's GDP growth rate reached 6.2%, surpassing the national average by 0.9 percentage points [2] Consumption Trends - Nationally, final consumption expenditure contributed 52% to economic growth in the first half of 2025, with 19 provinces reporting retail sales growth above the national average of 5% [2] - The "old-for-new" policy significantly boosted consumption in several provinces, with retail sales of wearable smart devices and related products in Henan growing over 85% [3] Retail Sales Performance - Beijing and Tianjin reported negative growth in retail sales, with Beijing's retail sales declining by 3.8% in the first half of 2025, primarily due to significant drops in automotive and communication equipment sales [4][5] - Shanghai's retail sales growth was 1.7%, ranking it among the lowest in the country [4] Fixed Asset Investment - Despite strong economic growth, several provinces, including Guangdong and Jiangsu, experienced declines in fixed asset investment, with Guangdong's investment dropping by 9.7% [9][10] - The decline in real estate development investment was a major factor affecting fixed asset investment growth in these provinces [10] Consumer Confidence - Consumer confidence in Beijing remained low, with the consumer confidence index below 100 for four consecutive quarters, indicating weak consumer sentiment [6][8] - The employment satisfaction index in Beijing hit a historical low of 75.2 in the second quarter of 2025, reflecting concerns over job security and income [5][6] Investment Opportunities - Some provinces, such as Beijing, reported strong fixed asset investment growth of 14.1%, driven by significant increases in equipment purchase investments [12] - Hebei's real estate development investment grew by 2.0%, supported by ongoing urban development projects [13]

Investment Rating - The industry is rated as outperforming the market, with an expected relative increase of over 10% in the next six months [46]. Core Insights - In June 2025, China's total retail sales of consumer goods reached 42,287 billion yuan, showing a year-on-year growth of 4.8%, which is an increase of 2.8 percentage points compared to the same period last year, although it represents a month-on-month decline of 1.6 percentage points [2][14]. - The growth rate of retail sales in urban and rural areas has both declined, with urban growth at 4.8% and rural growth at 4.5% [16][21]. - Online retail sales from January to June 2025 totaled 74,295 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 8.5%, accounting for 30.27% of total retail sales [4][38]. Summary by Sections Overall Performance - The total retail sales in June 2025 were 42,287 billion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 4.8% and a month-on-month decline of 1.6% [2][14]. - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.1% year-on-year in June, compared to a decrease of 0.1% in May [14][15]. Segment Analysis - Among 16 categories of goods, five categories (Chinese and Western medicines, beverages, tobacco and alcohol, cosmetics, and petroleum products) experienced negative growth, while others showed positive growth, particularly home appliances and audio-visual equipment, cultural office supplies, and furniture, all exceeding 20% growth [3][20]. - Essential goods like grain and oil (+8.7%) and daily necessities (+7.8%) saw a decline in growth rates, while furniture (+28.7%) and automobiles (+4.6%) showed increased growth [20][24]. Online Retail - Online retail sales for the first half of 2025 reached 74,295 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 8.5% [4][38]. - The cumulative online retail sales of physical goods amounted to 61,191 billion yuan, with a growth of 6.0% [41]. Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on sectors such as food and beverages, social services, and retail, highlighting opportunities in the gold and jewelry market due to its appeal as a safe-haven asset, and the cosmetics sector, which is seeing increased acceptance of domestic brands [9][42][44]. - The report emphasizes the potential for growth in home appliances and furniture due to ongoing government subsidies and policies aimed at boosting consumption [8][42].

Economic Overview - In the first half of 2025, China's GDP reached 66,053.6 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 5.3% [1][3] - The growth rate for Q1 was 5.4% and for Q2 was 5.2%, indicating a steady increase compared to the same period last year [3] Domestic Demand - Domestic demand contributed 68.8% to GDP growth, with final consumption expenditure accounting for 52%, marking it as the main driver of growth [3][4] - High-tech industries saw an increase in value added by 9.5% year-on-year, with "three new" industries expected to account for about 18% of GDP in 2024 [3] Investment Trends - Fixed asset investment potential remains significant, despite fluctuations in investment growth due to external complexities and internal market conditions [5] - The decline in traditional industry investments, particularly in real estate, has increased pressure on overall investment growth [5] Consumer Market - The consumer market showed signs of recovery, supported by policies aimed at expanding domestic demand and promoting consumption [6] - There are optimistic expectations for consumer growth, particularly in sectors like cultural tourism, healthcare, and elder care [6] Real Estate Sector - Real estate development companies saw a narrowing decline in funding, with total funds reaching 50,202 billion yuan, a decrease of 16.4% year-on-year [7][8] - The sales area of new commercial housing decreased by 3.5% year-on-year, but the decline was less severe than in previous periods, indicating a potential market recovery [9][10] Policy Support - Local governments are optimizing housing policies to better meet the reasonable housing needs of buyers, which is expected to enhance market confidence [11]

Core Insights - The departure tax refund policy has significantly boosted the consumption vitality of foreign visitors in Shanghai during the "May Day" holiday period [1] - The overall consumption during the holiday saw a double-digit growth, driven by substantial consumer subsidy policies [2] - Various promotional activities and events have contributed to the increase in consumer spending across different sectors [3] Group 1: Consumption Data - From April 30 to May 4, Shanghai's total consumption reached 594.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 13.1% [1] - Offline consumption accounted for 331.5 billion yuan, growing by 13.2%, while online consumption was 263.1 billion yuan, up by 12.9% [1] - The total foot traffic in 35 monitored shopping districts reached 29.93 million, marking a 12.8% increase year-on-year [1] Group 2: Foreign Visitor Spending - Foreign visitor spending in Shanghai amounted to 4.55 billion yuan, reflecting a remarkable year-on-year growth of 211.6% [1] - The departure tax refund sales during the holiday increased by 120%, with the refund amount also rising by 130% compared to the previous year [1] - The number of companies registered for departure tax refunds in Shanghai has reached 1,013, covering over 3,300 brand merchants [1] Group 3: Promotional Activities and Subsidies - The "May Day" holiday benefited from the largest consumer subsidy policies in six years, with offline sales from 1,000 enterprises and 6,000 stores reaching 1.15 billion yuan, a 32.4% increase from the previous five days [2] - Additional purchase subsidies for vehicles ranged from 1,000 to 10,000 yuan in various districts, further stimulating automotive consumption [2] - Restaurant consumption was boosted by the "Le Pin Shanghai" dining vouchers, leading to a total of 79.903 million yuan in restaurant sales [2] Group 4: Trade and E-commerce Initiatives - Shanghai organized trade fairs and events to promote foreign trade products, enhancing their entry into the domestic market [3] - Initiatives included establishing green channels for foreign trade enterprises and hosting export product exhibitions [3] - E-commerce platforms have also provided support for foreign trade companies, offering online solutions to help them navigate challenges [3]