Production - Industrial production growth in August was 5.2%, below the expected 5.8% and down 0.5 percentage points from the previous month[3] - The decline in industrial production was primarily due to a decrease in export growth, which turned negative at -0.4% for the first time this year, down 1.2 percentage points from last month[3] - The service production index growth fell to 5.6%, indicating a slowdown in the service sector[3] Investment - Fixed asset investment growth in August was -7.1%, a decline of 1.8 percentage points, with a cumulative growth of 0.5%, down 1.1 percentage points from the previous month[4] - Real estate investment saw a significant drop, with a monthly growth rate of -19.5% and a cumulative decline of -12.9%[4] - Infrastructure investment also decreased, with broad infrastructure cumulative growth at 5.4% and narrow infrastructure at 2.0%, both down from the previous month[4] Consumption - Retail sales growth in August was 3.4%, a decrease of 0.3 percentage points from the previous month, indicating a cooling in consumer spending[5] - Dining consumption showed slight recovery with a growth rate of 2.1%, while overall goods retail growth was 3.6%, down 0.3 percentage points[5] - The consumption of gold and jewelry surged to 16.8%, doubling from the previous month, while other discretionary categories showed mixed results[6] Outlook - The economic slowdown in August reflects ongoing pressures in production, investment, and consumption, necessitating targeted policy interventions[7] - Future policy efforts are expected to focus on boosting investment and service consumption, with financial tools likely to support infrastructure investment[7] - The overall economic environment remains challenging, with continued pressure from declining exports and a cooling real estate market[7]