Group 1 - The non-manufacturing business activity index for July is 50.1%, a decrease of 0.4 percentage points from the previous month, but still above the critical point, indicating continued expansion in the sector [9] - The comprehensive PMI output index for July is 50.2%, down 0.5 percentage points from last month, yet remains above the critical point, suggesting that overall production and business activities in China are maintaining expansion [4] - The manufacturing PMI for July has slightly decreased to 49.3%, remaining below the critical point, indicating ongoing economic downward pressure [7] Group 2 - The new orders index in the manufacturing PMI has dropped by 0.8 percentage points to 49.4%, entering the contraction zone, reflecting a potential weakening in market demand [8] - The production index stands at 50.5%, down 0.5 percentage points, while the supplier delivery time index is at 50.3%, up 0.1 percentage points, indicating mixed signals in manufacturing activity [7] - The construction activity index for July is 50.6%, a decrease of 2.2 percentage points, influenced by adverse weather conditions affecting construction activities [9] Group 3 - Analysts suggest that the decline in manufacturing PMI is primarily due to weakened external demand and a slowdown in domestic consumption growth, particularly in the real estate market [8][10] - The prices of major raw materials have shown improvement, with the purchasing price index rising to 51.5%, marking the first increase above the critical point since March [8] - The overall economic outlook indicates a need for increased macroeconomic policy adjustments to counteract the downward pressure observed in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors [10][11]

Economic Growth and Demand - China's GDP grew by 5.3% year-on-year in the first half of the year, showing resilience despite a complex internal and external environment [2] - Investment growth rate decreased from 4.2% in Q1 to 2.8% in H1, below last year's annual growth rate of 3.2% [2] - Consumer spending increased from 4.6% to 5% year-on-year, but June's growth of 4.8% was a decline from May [2] Price Levels and Market Dynamics - June's CPI rose by 0.1% year-on-year, significantly below the 2% annual target, while PPI's decline expanded from -2.2% to -3.6% [3] - The persistent low price levels indicate a significant supply-demand imbalance, leading to reduced confidence among businesses and consumers [3][4] - Market mechanisms are exacerbating demand contraction, as low prices lead to cautious investment and consumption behaviors [3][4] Investment Trends - Investment growth in Q2 showed a notable decline, influenced by falling market prices and cautious corporate outlooks [7] - Real estate investment fell by 11.2% year-on-year in H1, with a 9.9% decline in Q1, reflecting weak demand and market sentiment [7][8] - The manufacturing sector's investment growth decreased due to negative expectations regarding future sales and profitability [7] Government Role and Policy Recommendations - The government is urged to increase public investment to counteract demand contraction and stimulate economic growth [9][11] - There is a need for a proactive macroeconomic policy to address the prolonged demand contraction and its underlying issues [9][10] - The government has the capacity to enhance public goods and services, which can effectively stimulate demand and support economic recovery [10][12]