Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Overweight" [1] Core Viewpoints - In May 2025, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 41,326 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 6.4%, exceeding the consensus expectation of 4.85% [10][12] - Urban retail sales growth has outpaced rural markets for three consecutive months, with urban sales increasing by 6.5% and rural sales by 5.4% in May [12] - Offline retail performance is stronger than online, with offline retail sales growing by 10.50% year-on-year in May, while online sales saw a decline of 4.25% [15][24] Summary by Sections Overall Retail Sales - The total retail sales in May 2025 grew by 6.4% year-on-year, reaching 41,326 billion yuan, which is higher than the expected growth rate [10][12] Regional Performance - Urban retail sales amounted to 36,057 billion yuan, growing by 6.5%, while rural retail sales were 5,269 billion yuan, with a growth of 5.4% [12] Channel Performance - Offline retail sales increased by 10.50% year-on-year, while online retail sales decreased by 4.25% in May [15] Category Performance - The restaurant sector saw stable growth, with a total revenue of 4,578 billion yuan, up 5.9% year-on-year. The total retail sales of goods reached 36,748 billion yuan, growing by 6.5% [24] - Essential and discretionary categories showed strong performance, with year-on-year growth rates of 11.38% for essentials and 7.87% for discretionary items in May [30][31] Price Trends - Both CPI and PPI showed a year-on-year decline, with CPI at -0.1% and PPI at -3.3% in May [37][39] Employment Situation - The urban unemployment rate in May 2025 was 5.0%, marking a continuous decline for three months [46][48] Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on high-end liquor and regional leaders in the liquor industry due to competitive dynamics. It also recommends attention to the restaurant supply chain as consumer spending in dining is expected to recover [54]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article discusses the early occurrence and low intensity of the "late spring cold" phenomenon in March, which is unusual as it affected regions like Henan and Shandong [2][3][23] - The "late spring cold" typically occurs between March and May, with a significant drop in average temperatures below the seasonal norm, impacting agricultural production [2][4][10] - This year's "late spring cold" was noted for its early onset, being the earliest in nearly a decade, and lasted only three days, with temperature drops of 6-12°C, which is less severe than the historical average of around 15°C [2][11][24] Group 2 - The impact on agricultural prices is expected to be limited, as the "late spring cold" occurred before the flowering period of fruit trees, thus minimizing potential disruptions to fruit production [4][25][26] - Historical data indicates that previous "late spring cold" events during flowering periods led to significant price increases in fruits, but this year's timing suggests a lower risk of such price spikes [4][14][25] - Vegetable production is less affected by minimum temperatures and more by average temperatures; this year's average temperatures are close to seasonal norms, indicating manageable risks for vegetable supply [4][15][26] Group 3 - The construction industry experienced a noticeable decline in activity due to the cold weather, particularly in North and Central China, where temperatures fell below the suitable range for outdoor work [6][18][27] - The construction sector's slowdown may temporarily impact infrastructure investment, but a forecasted temperature rise later in March could mitigate long-term effects [6][19][27] - The cold weather also indirectly affected consumer movement and spending, but the overall risk to retail sales remains low due to the short duration of the cold spell and the relatively stable consumer activity in higher retail share regions [6][20][27]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights two significant economic characteristics continuing from last year: strong exports but weak consumption, and notable volume growth but weak pricing. Attention should be paid to changes in these characteristics as trade tensions escalate and more consumption-boosting measures are expected post the March Two Sessions [2][4]. Group 1: Export and Consumption - Exports are expected to remain strong, with a projected year-on-year growth of 4%-5% in January-February in USD terms. Factors supporting this include companies "rushing to export" and high-frequency data indicating strong performance [4][12]. - Consumption is anticipated to be weak, with retail sales growth expected around 3.0%, down from 3.7% in December. This is influenced by the post-Spring Festival consumption dip and a decline in automobile sales growth [5][17]. Group 2: Price Trends and Economic Growth - CPI is projected to decline to around -0.8% year-on-year in February, with PPI also expected to remain negative. This is attributed to weak food prices and a post-holiday drop in core CPI [6][9]. - GDP growth for the first quarter is estimated to be between 5.2%-5.3%, with strong performance expected in finance, industry, and information sectors [6][11]. Group 3: Investment and Financial Data - Fixed asset investment growth is projected at 4.5% for January-February, driven by early-year investment activity and a rebound in construction projects [6][15]. - Financial data indicates accelerated government bond issuance, with new social financing expected to reach 3 trillion, significantly higher than the previous year [7][18].