Revenue Insights - In the first two months of 2025, national public budget revenue was 43,856 billion yuan, a year-on-year decline of 1.6%[3] - Tax revenue decreased by 3.9% year-on-year, while non-tax revenue growth slowed significantly from 94% in December to 11%[3] - Individual income tax saw a substantial increase of 27% year-on-year, influenced by a low base effect from 2024[3] Expenditure Analysis - Public fiscal expenditure reached 45,096 billion yuan in January-February 2025, growing by 3.4% year-on-year, significantly outpacing revenue growth[4] - Expenditure in the first two months accounted for approximately 15.2% of the annual target, slightly lower than 2024 but higher than the average of the past three years[4] - Social welfare and technology expenditures grew at a faster pace, with education and social security spending increasing by 8% and 7% respectively[4] Fiscal Policy Outlook - The annual budget draft anticipates a 3.7% growth in tax revenue for 2025, although the first two months did not meet this target[4] - The government aims to reduce reliance on non-tax revenue, indicating a shift in fiscal strategy[4] - Special bond issuance has accelerated, with 9,148 billion yuan issued by March 24, 2025, representing about 20% of the annual target[5] Market Implications - The decline in land transfer revenue, down 16% year-on-year, suggests ongoing challenges in the real estate market despite previous improvements[5] - The focus of fiscal spending is shifting towards "benefiting people's livelihoods and promoting consumption," indicating a strategic pivot in government priorities[5] - Risks include potential economic downturns and the possibility of policy execution falling short of expectations[5]

Core Viewpoint - The article analyzes the changes in local fiscal reports, highlighting the income structure and expenditure situation for 2024 and the budget expectations for 2025, providing insights into potential fiscal "bottlenecks" and revenue expectations for local governments [1][24]. Group 1: 2024 Local General Fiscal Situation - In 2024, local general fiscal revenue growth reached 1.7%, higher than the national average of 1.3%, primarily due to increased efforts in asset disposal and resource mobilization [2][8]. - Local general fiscal expenditure growth was 3.2%, lower than the national rate of 3.6%, attributed to sufficient central carryover funds supporting national fiscal spending [2][8]. - Local non-tax revenue saw a significant increase of approximately 12.5%, while tax revenue experienced an average decline of about 2% [2][9]. Group 2: 2024 Local Government Fund Performance - Local government fund revenue decreased by 13.5% in 2024, with a slight expenditure growth of 0.4% [3][12]. - The decline in land transfer income, which fell by 16%, significantly impacted government fund revenues, with 19 out of 25 provinces reporting decreases [13][12]. - Some regions compensated for the decline in land transfer income through project construction and investment revenues, with notable increases in specific funds in provinces like Guizhou [14][12]. Group 3: 2025 Local Fiscal Budget Goals - Local governments have raised their 2025 general fiscal revenue growth target to 3%, up from 1.7% in 2024, mainly due to expected tax recovery [5][18]. - Tax revenue is projected to grow by an average of 3.9%, while non-tax revenue is expected to decline by 11.6% [5][18]. - Local government fund revenue is anticipated to increase by 1.6%, while expenditure is expected to decrease by 6.5% [5][20].