Economic Outlook for 2026 - The report anticipates a "gradual warming" of the Chinese economy in 2026, with GDP growth expected to rebound seasonally, and actual GDP growth projected to be in the range of 4.5% to 5% for the year, approaching the upper limit [1] - Nominal GDP growth is expected to show a more significant rebound, with the macro and micro "temperature difference" gradually disappearing [1] Price Trends - Consumer Price Index (CPI) is expected to gradually rise to a moderate range, while the decline in Producer Price Index (PPI) is expected to narrow, alleviating negative effects related to prices [1] Consumption Sector - The consumption market is projected to operate steadily in 2026, with a recovery in dining consumption, emergence of new consumption formats driven by AI and robotics, and growth in service consumption being the main drivers of consumption growth, with total retail sales of consumer goods expected to return to a growth rate of around 4% [2] Investment Sector - Investment is expected to stabilize, with infrastructure investment recovering first and a significant reduction in the decline of real estate investment; a notable structural optimization combining "investment in physical assets" and "investment in people" (such as education and healthcare) is anticipated [2] Foreign Trade and Employment - Foreign trade is expected to remain at a high level, with a moderate appreciation of the RMB exchange rate, overall employment stability, synchronized growth in residents' income, a "soft landing" in the real estate market, and an estimated annual stock market increase of about 10% [2] Expert Insights - Experts emphasize the importance of stabilizing prices as a core policy for 2026, aiming to bring CPI closer to a target of 2%, while controlling real estate supply and stabilizing housing prices to avoid negative impacts on consumption and investment [2] - The real estate market is currently experiencing a "decline in both volume and price," and further price adjustments are needed to convert potential demand into effective demand [3] - The long-term trend of RMB appreciation is seen as a necessary step for China to transition to a high-income country, with policies needing to accommodate this trend [3] - Balancing "technological self-reliance" with "improving livelihoods" is crucial, focusing on breakthroughs in AI and advanced manufacturing while enhancing social security for vulnerable groups [3]

Economic Outlook - China is expected to maintain an economic growth target of around 5% for 2026, consistent with 2025, reflecting the central government's focus on stabilizing growth and promoting recovery [1] Consumption - From January to October 2025, total retail sales of consumer goods reached 41.2 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 4.3%, showing a slowdown from a peak of 5% in May [2] - The job market is showing signs of recovery, with the urban unemployment rate dropping to 5.10% in October 2025, and is expected to approach 5.0% [2] - The retail sales growth for 2026 is projected to be around 4.20%, indicating a moderate recovery despite structural pressures [2] Investment - Fixed asset investment (excluding rural households) from January to October 2025 was 408.914 billion yuan, down 1.7% year-on-year, primarily due to a significant decline in infrastructure and real estate investment [3] - Infrastructure investment is expected to rebound significantly in 2026, with a projected growth rate of approximately 5.50% [3] - Manufacturing investment is anticipated to recover to a growth rate of around 5.55% in 2026, supported by improved capacity utilization [3] Real Estate - Real estate investment is at a historical low, slightly above levels during the public health crisis, primarily due to weak sales [4] - The year-on-year growth rate of housing prices is showing signs of marginal recovery, with new residential prices down 2.60% and second-hand prices down 5.40% in October 2025 [4] - The decline in real estate investment is expected to narrow to -10.65% in 2026 [4] Exports - Total exports from January to October 2025 reached 221.146 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 6.2%, despite uncertainties from U.S. tariff policies [5] - Exports to non-U.S. regions have shown strong growth, with significant increases to Africa (26.10%), the EU (7.50%), ASEAN (14.30%), and India (12.30%) [6] - The global economic recovery and potential easing of tariffs are expected to provide a more stable environment for exports in 2026 [5][6] Prices - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.2% year-on-year in October 2025, while the Producer Price Index (PPI) fell by 2.1% [7] - Both CPI and PPI are expected to improve, with PPI potentially turning positive in the first half of 2026 [7] Fiscal and Monetary Policy - Fiscal policy is expected to remain proactive, with a projected deficit rate increase from 4% to 4.5% in 2026, alongside an increase in special bond issuance [8] - Monetary policy is anticipated to remain moderately loose, with potential interest rate cuts of 10-20 basis points in 2026 [8] Overall Economic Assessment - The Chinese economy is projected to achieve around 5% growth in 2026, supported by policy measures, external demand recovery, and improving price levels [9]