Consumption Insights - China's final consumption expenditure accounted for 56.6% of GDP in 2024, with household consumption at 70.6% and government consumption at 29.4%[9] - The nominal growth of final consumption expenditure in 2024 was only 3.9%, the second-lowest since 1995, while actual growth was 3.7%[26] - Government consumption expenditure growth was particularly weak, with a nominal increase of just 0.7% in 2024, compared to a 5.0% increase in household consumption[26] Economic Factors - The contribution of final consumption expenditure to GDP growth was 44.5% in 2024, down from over 50% in most years since 2011[25] - The decline in household consumption growth is attributed to slowing income growth, particularly in property and transfer income, which saw declines of 5.44% and 5.00% respectively[36] - The wealth effect has weakened due to a downturn in the real estate market, impacting consumer spending[46] Policy Recommendations - Short-term strategies to boost consumption include enhancing government fiscal capacity, increasing transfer income for residents, and improving the nominal growth environment[57] - Long-term strategies focus on reforming income distribution systems and promoting urbanization as key drivers for consumption growth[57] - Strengthening fiscal policy is essential, as local government leverage reached a historical high of 36.8% by early 2025, indicating a need for central government intervention[58] Consumer Sentiment - Consumer confidence remains low, with the consumer confidence index at 88% and the consumer expectation index at 89.5% as of May 2025, both below the neutral level of 100%[47] - The Engel coefficient for urban residents was 28.8% in 2024, indicating a rise in basic consumption needs relative to total consumption[49]