Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the fluctuations in commodity prices, particularly gold and oil, while highlighting the challenges in domestic demand and the impact of tariff policies on external trade [1][6]. Domestic Demand - Real estate and automobile sales are weakening, with new home sales growth turning negative in April and second-hand home sales declining while prices rise [2]. - The average daily box office revenue during the holiday was only 126 million yuan, about half of last year's figures, although per capita spending on travel increased slightly [2]. - Post-holiday consumer activity has decreased, with declines in visitor numbers at Shanghai Disneyland, shopping districts, hotel occupancy rates, and subway passenger volumes compared to the same period last year [2]. External Demand - The escalation of tariffs between the US and China continues, with Trump suspending additional tariffs but maintaining a 10% base tariff, leading to over 100% cumulative tariffs on China since his administration began [3]. - South Korea's export growth rebounded in early April, with improvements in shipping rates and loaded ship departures, possibly due to shifting trade policies creating export demand [4]. Production - Steel and cement production remain strong, but inventory levels are rising. Steel prices have dropped significantly, particularly for export-related products, while rebar production is increasing due to remaining profit margins [5]. - Cement prices have also begun to decline, although both cement shipment rates and mill operation rates have improved compared to last year, indicating a faster supply growth despite slow recovery in infrastructure and housing demand [5]. Commodity Prices - Gold prices have reached new highs, while copper prices have rebounded and oil prices have experienced a bottoming out and subsequent rebound [6]. - The uncertainty surrounding Trump's tariff policies has led to a decrease in recessionary trades, contributing to the rise in copper prices and fluctuations in oil prices [6]. - The lack of confidence in the US dollar system, exacerbated by ineffective deficit reduction plans, has prompted market participants to sell US assets, driving gold prices to new highs [7]. Future Focus - Attention will be on the developments regarding US tariffs and the economic data for March, including export figures [10].

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].