3 October 2025 | 5:19PM HKT Economics Research China Economic Activity and Policy Tracker: October 3 (Song) In this note, we update four sets of high-frequency indicators that we track: 1) consumption and mobility; 2) production and investment; 3) other macro activity; and 4) markets and policy. We publish our tracker on a bi-weekly basis. Note that some of the data were not updated to the latest due to the National Day Golden Week holiday (Oct 1-8). 1) Consumption and mobility Exhibit 1: 30-city daily prop ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The report focuses on the **Chinese economy**, specifically tracking economic activity and policy updates as of July 25, 2025. It includes high-frequency indicators related to consumption, production, investment, macro activity, and market policies [1][4][5]. Core Insights and Arguments Consumption and Mobility - **Property Transactions**: The daily property transaction volume in the primary market across 30 cities was reported to be below last year's levels [2][12]. - **Traffic Congestion**: Traffic congestion levels were slightly below those of the previous year, indicating a potential decline in mobility [8][10]. - **Consumer Confidence**: Consumer confidence remained depressed as of May, suggesting ongoing challenges in consumer sentiment [14]. Production and Investment - **Steel Demand**: Flat steel demand has slightly decreased but remains above last year's levels, while long steel demand has remained roughly flat and below year-ago levels [17][19]. - **Steel Production**: Overall steel production has edged down and is below last year's levels, indicating a contraction in the sector [19]. - **Local Government Bonds**: As of July 25, 2025, RMB 2.8 trillion in local government special bonds have been issued out of a total quota of RMB 4.4 trillion for the year, representing 63.1% of the annual quota [23][24]. - **Coal Consumption**: Daily coal consumption in coastal provinces was reported to be below last year's levels, reflecting a potential decline in energy demand [25]. Other Macro Activity - **Port Activity**: Official port container throughput has increased over the past two weeks and remains above year-ago levels, indicating a positive trend in trade activity [33]. - **Rare Earth Exports**: Chinese exports of rare earth materials saw a sharp increase in June, highlighting a potential area of growth in international trade [36]. Markets and Policy - **Interbank Rates**: Interbank repo rates have edged down recently, suggesting a potential easing of liquidity conditions in the banking system [43]. - **Oil Demand**: The nowcast indicates that China's oil demand hovered around 16.8 million barrels per day in the latest reading, reflecting stable demand levels [44]. - **Currency Movements**: The Chinese Yuan (CNY) appreciated against the USD and the CFETS basket in recent weeks, indicating strengthening currency dynamics [45]. - **Policy Announcements**: Several macro policy announcements have been made since March, focusing on investment, growth, and consumption, including the start of the Yarlung Zangbo River hydropower project and measures to stabilize employment [50]. Other Important Insights - The report highlights a shift in data sources for traffic congestion from Gaode map to Baidu map, which may affect future comparisons and analyses [10]. - The report emphasizes the importance of monitoring these indicators bi-weekly to capture the evolving economic landscape in China [1]. This summary encapsulates the key points and insights from the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of the Chinese economy and its various sectors.