Economic Overview - In Q1 2025, China's GDP grew by 5.4%, exceeding market expectations despite a high base from the previous year[2] - The trade war initiated in April 2025 has increased economic uncertainty, leading to downward revisions in GDP growth forecasts by international institutions[3] Monetary Policy Response - The People's Bank of China (PBOC) has implemented a comprehensive financial policy package, including a 0.5 percentage point reduction in the reserve requirement ratio, releasing approximately 1 trillion yuan in liquidity[4] - The PBOC also lowered the benchmark interest rate for 7-day reverse repos from 1.5% to 1.4%, potentially reducing the Loan Prime Rate (LPR) by about 0.1 percentage points[10] Sector-Specific Measures - The reserve requirement ratio for auto finance and financial leasing companies has been reduced from 5% to 0%, aimed at stimulating auto consumption and reducing manufacturing costs[10] - The interest rate for personal housing provident fund loans has been cut by 0.25 percentage points, with the first home rate now at 2.6%[10] Consumer Behavior and Market Trends - In March 2025, retail sales grew by 5.9% year-on-year, indicating improved consumer sentiment[17] - The consumer spending propensity reached 63.1% in Q1 2025, the highest for the first quarter since 2020, reflecting a positive trend in consumer confidence[17] Trade War Impact - The trade war could potentially reduce China's GDP growth by approximately 2 percentage points if high tariffs lead to a complete halt in trade with the U.S.[18] - However, the actual impact is expected to be less severe, with the IMF estimating a drag of only 0.6% on GDP growth due to the ability to reroute exports to non-U.S. markets[18] Future Outlook - The PBOC is expected to maintain a moderately loose monetary policy, with significant room for further easing if economic conditions worsen due to the trade war[12] - The combination of monetary and fiscal policies is anticipated to support domestic demand, countering external uncertainties[16]