Group 1: PMI Overview - The overall manufacturing PMI for September is 49.8%, an increase of 0.4 percentage points from the previous month, but still below the expansion threshold[7] - New export orders improved to 47.8%, the best level in six months, while import PMI reached 48.1%, the highest in seven months[7] - Small enterprises showed the most significant improvement in PMI, rising to 48.2%, an increase of 1.6 percentage points, compared to a 0.2 percentage point increase for large enterprises[7] Group 2: Internal Demand and Policy Impact - The marginal improvement in the PMI is primarily driven by changes in internal demand, influenced by recent policy measures such as the revision of the Price Law and the regulation of competitive order[7] - The "anti-involution" policy is expected to continue to support the recovery of internal demand, with production and procurement indices showing better performance than new orders and backlog orders[7] - The service sector's PMI remains above the expansion threshold, with business activity expectations in the service sector consistently above 55% for the past 12 months, indicating robust growth[7] Group 3: Future Outlook - Internal demand narratives are expected to replace tariff disturbances as the core variable for economic observation in the next phase[7] - The overall non-manufacturing PMI slightly decreased by 0.3 percentage points but remains resilient, primarily affected by the construction sector[7] - As external trade shocks gradually dissipate, the policy focus on expanding internal demand will further manifest in economic data[7]

Group 1: Report Industry Investment Rating - No relevant content provided Group 2: Report's Core View - In September, due to the traditional peak season, corporate production and business activities accelerated. The manufacturing PMI, non - manufacturing business activity index, and composite PMI output index were 49.8%, 50%, and 50.6% respectively, showing an overall recovery and indicating that China's economic output remained in an expansion phase. However, there were still weaknesses in investment, and consumption growth slowed down. Exports maintained resilience but might slow down in the future. Overall, demand improved, production accelerated, and prices showed different trends [2] - The demand side saw short - term acceleration in external demand and short - term recovery but still weak internal demand. In production, industrial production accelerated significantly in September and was expected to slow down but continue to grow at a relatively high rate in the fourth quarter. Prices of domestic and foreign demand - type commodities showed different trends [2] Group 3: Summary by Related Catalogs Manufacturing - In September, the manufacturing PMI was 49.8%, better than the expected 49.7% and up 0.4 percentage points from the previous month. The manufacturing market demand improved, with the new order index rising 0.2 percentage points to 49.7%. Production expanded faster, with the production index rising 1.1 percentage points to 51.9%. Both external and internal demand in foreign trade increased, with the new export order index and import index rising 0.6% and 0.1% respectively [3] - Manufacturing market prices dropped slightly. The main raw material purchase price index and the ex - factory price index decreased by 0.1 and 0.9 percentage points respectively. Industrial production accelerated, but investment demand in infrastructure and real estate was weak. Domestic "anti - involution" policies supported domestic - demand commodities, and international commodity prices rebounded [3][4] - Both the finished - product inventory and raw material inventory increased. The finished - product inventory index rose 1.4 percentage points to 48.2%, and the raw material inventory index rose 0.5 percentage points to 48.5%. Enterprises actively replenished raw material inventory and passively replenished finished - product inventory [4] Non - manufacturing - In September, the non - manufacturing business activity index was 50.0%, down 0.3 percentage points from the previous month. The service industry remained in the expansion range, with some industries in a high - level boom range and others falling below the critical point due to the end of the summer vacation effect. The construction industry's business activity index rose 0.2 percentage points to 49.3%, and its market expectation improved [5] Composite - In September, the composite PMI output index was 50.6%, up 0.1 percentage points from the previous month, indicating that the overall expansion of Chinese enterprises' production and business activities continued to accelerate [5]

Consumption - Automotive retail and wholesale volumes continue to rise, but year-on-year growth has marginally declined due to the low base effect from the Mid-Autumn Festival[6] - Service consumption has weakened, particularly in urban areas affected by typhoon weather, leading to a significant drop in subway ridership in first-tier cities[7] - Food and beverage prices have shown a slight recovery, with agricultural product wholesale prices increasing, but the year-on-year decline continues to widen due to high base effects from 2024[6] Investment - As of September 27, 2025, the cumulative issuance of special bonds reached CNY 3.71 trillion, with CNY 446.52 billion issued in September alone, marking the fastest issuance pace since 2020[19] - Real estate sales have seen a slight seasonal improvement, but the absolute values remain at historical lows, with new home sales in 30 cities showing a marginal year-on-year decline[19] - The asphalt construction rate has risen significantly, reaching a yearly high, while cement and steel consumption indicate slower construction progress[19] Trade and Export - Domestic export freight rates have decreased by 2.9% month-on-month, with container freight rates from Shanghai and Ningbo dropping by 7% and 8.5% respectively[27] - The manufacturing PMI readings for the US and Europe in September were 52.0 and 49.5, indicating a slight decline in overseas manufacturing activity, which may weaken demand for imports from China[27] Production and Inventory - Most industries are experiencing a decline in production, with coal consumption in coastal provinces showing a seasonal decrease[29] - Inventory levels are primarily decreasing, with significant reductions in coal inventories at ports due to increased downstream purchasing ahead of the holiday[37] Price Trends - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has shown a slight recovery, with service prices in transportation, education, and healthcare increasing year-on-year, while clothing and housing prices have declined[42] - Industrial product prices are mixed, with the South China price index falling by 0.3% month-on-month, while cement prices increased by 2.5%[42] Liquidity - The central bank's net cash injection through reverse repos was CNY 640.6 billion last week, with an additional CNY 300 billion in medium-term lending facility (MLF) operations, totaling CNY 880.6 billion to support liquidity[44] - The US dollar index has risen significantly, reflecting a stronger US economy and impacting the USD/CNY exchange rate, which increased from 7.1125 to 7.1345[44]

Market Overview - The market continues to experience fluctuations after a rapid rise, entering a consolidation phase [3] - Major indices: Shanghai Composite Index at 3828.1 points, up 0.21%; Shenzhen Component Index at 13209.0 points, up 1.06%; ChiNext Index at 3151.5 points, up 1.96% [3] Sector Performance Power Equipment - The power equipment sector increased by 3.86%, driven by breakthroughs in new technologies and a reversal in the industry cycle [3] - Solid-state batteries represent a new growth phase, with industrialization accelerating and leading to strong mid-year performance from leading lithium battery equipment companies [3] Nonferrous Metals - The nonferrous metals sector rose by 3.52%, supported by the Federal Reserve's decision to lower interest rates by 25 basis points, providing upward momentum for metal prices [3] - A recent call between the US and Chinese leaders has also helped boost market risk appetite [3] Electronics - The electronics sector saw a 3.51% increase, with OpenAI partnering with Chinese consumer electronics leader Luxshare Precision to develop a revolutionary AI device [4] - The Meta Connect conference introduced new AI glasses, and Apple launched a full line of upgraded products, indicating a recovery in consumer electronics demand [4] Macroeconomic Context - The People's Bank of China (PBOC) continues to implement a moderately loose monetary policy, with the 1-year Loan Prime Rate (LPR) at 3% and the 5-year LPR at 3.5%, unchanged for four consecutive months [4] - The PBOC announced a 600 billion yuan MLF operation on September 25, with a net injection of 300 billion yuan for the month, marking the seventh consecutive month of increased operations [4] International Developments - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell indicated that stock prices appear overvalued, without hinting at potential rate cuts in October [5] - The US has confirmed a 15% tariff on EU imported cars and automotive products starting August 1, following a trade agreement [5] - The US current account deficit significantly decreased by $188.5 billion in Q2, reaching its lowest level since Q3 2023 at $251.3 billion [5] Focus Areas - Key sectors to watch include AI and technology, domestic demand-related sectors, and "anti-involution" related sectors [6] Follow-Up Areas - Continued monitoring of real estate, fiscal, consumption data, and price index data, as well as overseas economic data and changes in US-China tariff policies [7]

Group 1 - The "14th Five-Year Plan" period (2021-2025) has shown strong resilience in China's macroeconomic performance despite facing complex internal and external challenges, with nominal GDP expected to exceed 140 trillion yuan by the end of this period, an increase of over 35 trillion yuan compared to the end of the "13th Five-Year Plan" [3][4][5] - During the first four years of the "14th Five-Year Plan," China's GDP experienced an average annual real growth rate of 5.5% and a nominal growth rate of 6.9%, with the nominal GDP growth rate projected to be around 4.5% for the entire year of 2025 [3][5][6] - The economic growth achievements during the "14th Five-Year Plan" have laid a solid material foundation for modernizing the economy and have provided strong support for stabilizing employment and improving people's livelihoods [4][5] Group 2 - The "15th Five-Year Plan" period (2026-2030) is crucial for achieving the strategic vision of reaching a per capita GDP level of a moderately developed country by 2035, with a minimum nominal GDP average growth rate requirement of 5% [9][10][14] - The core guiding principle for economic growth in the "15th Five-Year Plan" is to achieve a per capita GDP of 27,000 USD by 2035, reflecting a shift from focusing on total GDP growth to per capita income improvement [10][12][14] - To meet the 2035 target, the nominal GDP growth rate during the "15th Five-Year Plan" should ideally be around 6%, with a minimum requirement of 5%, depending on factors such as actual GDP growth, price levels, and exchange rate fluctuations [14][16][18] Group 3 - The "15th Five-Year Plan" should consider setting clear economic growth targets to address demand insufficiency and promote supply-demand balance, which is essential for achieving full employment and improving living standards [19][20] - A comprehensive target system around nominal GDP growth should be established, including a core target of 5% nominal GDP growth and 4.8% real GDP growth, alongside specific goals for consumption and investment growth [21][22][23] - Policies should focus on expanding domestic demand, particularly through boosting consumption and stabilizing infrastructure investment, to ensure necessary growth rates are met [23][25][26]

Industrial Sector - Daily average pig iron production increased, and Shandong's independent refineries' operating rates improved[2] - Cement clinker capacity utilization rate and petroleum asphalt operating rates showed marginal declines[2] - Polyester operating rates remained stable, while tire production rates for both radial and semi-radial tires increased[2] Real Estate - New home sales in 30 major cities increased by 37.6% year-on-year as of September 19, 2025, significantly up from the previous week[2] - The average selling price index for second-hand homes decreased by 0.69% in the last four weeks as of September 8, 2025[2] Domestic Demand - Movie box office revenue averaged 118.63 million yuan per day, up 58.6% year-on-year as of September 19, 2025[2] - Retail sales of major home appliances grew by 5.3% year-on-year, an increase of 0.7 percentage points from the previous week[2] - Domestic flight operations increased by 5.6% year-on-year, with a notable rise in execution rates[2] External Demand - Port cargo throughput increased by 7.3% year-on-year, while container throughput rose by 10.9% as of September 14, 2025[2] - South Korea's export value grew by 3.8% year-on-year in the first ten days of September, up 2.5 percentage points from August[2] Price Trends - The Nanhua Industrial Price Index rose by 1.0%, with the black raw materials index increasing by 3.1%[2] - Rebar futures closed up 1.4%, while spot prices increased by 0.7%[2] - Coking coal futures rose by 7.6%, with Shanxi coking coal spot prices up by 2.8%[2]

Core Viewpoint - The fiscal data for August 2025 indicates a slowdown in both revenue and expenditure growth, reflecting a need to boost domestic demand. Attention should be paid to the release of "quasi-fiscal" functions following the implementation of policy financial tools and the early allocation of new special bond quotas [1][3]. Revenue Summary - In the first eight months of 2025, national general public budget revenue grew by 0.3% year-on-year, with August's growth at 2%, down from 2.6% in July. The narrowing decline in PPI has alleviated the drag on tax revenue, while the income from securities transaction stamp duty has provided notable support. The internal growth momentum of the economy still needs enhancement, and macro policies require further strengthening [1]. - Corporate income tax revenue saw a significant rebound, primarily due to a low base from the previous year. Personal income tax and consumption tax revenue growth slowed, although personal income tax still performed well, while consumption tax remained at a low level. The high growth in securities transaction stamp duty revenue is linked to recent stock market activity. Additionally, vehicle purchase tax and land value-added tax revenues showed significant declines, while export tax rebate revenue growth rebounded, indicating a need to boost domestic demand [1]. Expenditure Summary - In the first eight months of 2025, national general public budget expenditure increased by 3.1% year-on-year, with August's growth at 0.8%, down from 3% in July, likely constrained by revenue. Expenditure in the livelihood sector continued to grow significantly, while infrastructure spending remained low. Social security, employment, and education expenditures maintained high growth rates, while spending on energy conservation, environmental protection, and transportation saw a substantial rebound, mainly due to a low base from the previous year. Expenditures in urban and rural communities, as well as agriculture, forestry, and water resources, experienced a widening decline [2]. Government Fund Summary - In the first eight months of 2025, national government fund budget revenue decreased by 1.4%, with August's growth at -5.7%, down from 8.9% in July. This decline is attributed to the pressure on the land market due to adjustments in the real estate market. Conversely, government fund budget expenditure grew by 30.0% year-on-year, driven by accelerated issuance and utilization of bond funds by various levels of government. In August, government fund budget expenditure increased by 19.8%, down from 42.4% in July, but still showed strong performance [2]. Policy Focus - Moving forward, it is essential for fiscal policy to continue to strengthen. The implementation of policy financial tools is expected to release "quasi-fiscal" functions, which may support the expansion of domestic demand. Additionally, the Ministry of Finance has indicated the early allocation of part of the new local government debt limit for 2026, aiming to utilize debt capacity proactively and address existing hidden debt [3].

Economic Overview - In August, China's exports increased by 4.8% year-on-year, marking six consecutive months of positive growth in monthly exports [2] - The total retail sales of consumer goods grew by 3.4% year-on-year, with a declining growth rate for three consecutive months [2] - Fixed asset investment (excluding rural households) saw a year-on-year increase of 0.5% in the first eight months, a decline of 1.1 percentage points compared to the previous seven months [2] Trade Performance - The total value of imports and exports in the first eight months increased by 3.5% year-on-year, with exports rising by 6.9% [5] - Exports of mechanical and electrical products reached 10.6 trillion yuan, growing by 9.2% and accounting for 60.2% of total exports [5] - ASEAN became China's largest trading partner, with trade totaling 4.93 trillion yuan, an increase of 9.7% [5] Consumer and Investment Trends - Retail sales growth declined from 6.4% in May to 3.4% in August, with restaurant revenue showing negative growth in some months [8] - Fixed asset investment growth fell from 4.2% in the first quarter to 0.5% in the first eight months, with private investment in real estate down by 16.7% [9] - The decline in investment is attributed to reduced real estate development, impacting overall investment growth [9] Policy Implications - Analysts suggest that to stimulate consumption, policies should focus on increasing employment and residents' income [2][4] - There is a call for significant expansion of government public product investment to boost infrastructure and improve overall economic conditions [10] - The government is expected to introduce new macroeconomic measures in the fourth quarter to stabilize economic growth and employment [4]

Industrial Production - China's industrial production shows marginal stabilization with daily average pig iron output and cement clinker capacity utilization rates increasing[2] - The operating rates for asphalt and most chemical products have rebounded, while only steel and construction materials show slight adjustments in output and apparent demand[2] - The textile and polyester operating rates have seasonally increased, along with the operating rates for both radial and bias tires[2] Real Estate - New home sales in 30 major cities increased by 7.2% year-on-year as of September 12, with a 5.7 percentage point increase from the previous week[2] - The new home sales area in these cities has shown a 9.8% year-on-year growth since September, reversing from negative growth last month[2] - The listing price index for second-hand homes decreased by 0.59% month-on-month as of September 1[2] Domestic Demand - Movie box office revenue continues to outperform last year's figures, with a 41.0% year-on-year increase in daily average revenue of 51.14 million yuan as of September 12[2] - Domestic flight operations increased by 3.9% year-on-year, with a 4.5 percentage point increase from the previous week[2] - The volume of postal express deliveries grew by 11.0% year-on-year, although this was a slight decline of 1.1 percentage points from the previous week[2] External Demand - Port cargo throughput increased by 5.8% year-on-year, while container throughput rose by 10.5% year-on-year as of September 7[2] - The export container freight rate index decreased by 2.1% week-on-week, with Shanghai and Ningbo's export container rates also declining[2] - South Korea's export value increased by 3.8% year-on-year in the first ten days of September, a 2.5 percentage point increase from August[2] Price Trends - The Nanhua Industrial Index fell by 0.5%, while the Nanhua Black Materials Index and Nanhua Nonferrous Metals Index rose by 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively[2] - Rebar futures closed down by 0.5%, with spot prices also decreasing by 0.4%[2] - Coking coal futures dropped by 1.2%, and Shanxi coking coal spot prices fell by 1.4%[2]

Group 1: Inflation Trends - In August, the core CPI and PPI both showed year-on-year improvement, driven by simultaneous policy efforts on both supply and demand sides[6] - The core CPI year-on-year growth has expanded for four consecutive months, with industrial consumer goods prices improving due to consumption promotion policies[6] - The CPI in August was -0.4%, while the core CPI was 0.9%, indicating a significant divergence primarily due to the drag from pork prices[6] Group 2: PPI Dynamics - The PPI year-on-year decline has narrowed for the first time since March, indicating a shift towards more positive signals driven by domestic demand[6] - Key sectors like black metal smelting saw PPI improvements, with year-on-year declines of -4% compared to -10% previously, reflecting better pricing and production conditions[6] - Emerging industries are expected to continue supporting PPI growth, with sectors like electronic materials and smart drones showing stable performance[6] Group 3: Consumer Behavior and Policy Impact - Upgrading consumption demand remains a crucial support for PPI, with certain sectors like sports equipment and nutritional food manufacturing showing year-on-year PPI growth of no less than 0.9%[6] - Policies aimed at enhancing consumer sentiment, such as "old-for-new" exchanges, are expected to further stimulate service consumption[6] - The overall external trade environment remains challenging, but domestic demand is anticipated to be the main driver for future recovery in both CPI and PPI[6]