Economic Performance - China's economy is showing stable growth with key indicators reflecting resilience and vitality, such as a 1.6% year-on-year increase in fixed asset investment and a 5.9% rise in the service sector production index from January to July [1] - The retail sales of consumer goods increased by 4.8% year-on-year during the same period, indicating a strong consumer market [4] Trade and External Relations - In the first seven months, China's goods trade imports and exports grew by 3.5%, with July imports rising by 4.8%, marking a recovery trend despite external pressures like the US tariff war [3] - China has approved 183 Brazilian coffee exporters for a five-year sales license, showcasing its commitment to opening up trade [3] Policy and Innovation - The Chinese government has implemented proactive macroeconomic policies to stabilize growth, with equipment manufacturing value added increasing by 9.9% from January to July [4] - High-tech manufacturing value added grew at a rate 3.6 percentage points faster than the overall industrial growth in July, highlighting the integration of technological and industrial innovation [5] Foreign Investment and Market Sentiment - The International Monetary Fund has raised its 2025 economic growth forecast for China to 4.8%, driven by domestic demand, exports, and innovation [7] - Foreign interest in Chinese assets is at a high, with institutions like Deutsche Bank and Swiss asset management firms expressing bullish views on Chinese investments [7]

Economic Overview - The national economy shows a steady development trend, with a need for macro policies to effectively release domestic demand potential and promote dual circulation [1][2] - In July, exports increased by 7.2% year-on-year, surpassing the previous value of 5.9%, while social retail sales grew by 3.7%, down from 4.8% in June [1][2] - Fixed asset investment from January to July grew by 1.6%, a decline of 1.2 percentage points compared to the first half of the year, with manufacturing, infrastructure, and real estate investments showing a slowdown [1][2] Industrial Performance - In July, the industrial added value for large-scale enterprises increased by 5.7% year-on-year, lower than the previous value of 6.8%, influenced by slowing investment and consumption growth [2] - The producer price index for industrial producers fell by 0.2% month-on-month, with a year-on-year decrease of 3.6% [2] Consumption and Policy Measures - Starting in August, measures to expand consumption include the introduction of childcare subsidies and the exemption of certain education fees, aimed at boosting consumer spending [3][4] - The third batch of 690 billion yuan in central fiscal consumption subsidies will be implemented, with a fourth batch expected to continue until the end of the year, supporting retail growth [2][3] Challenges and Future Outlook - The real estate sector and local infrastructure investment present ongoing challenges, requiring time to address accumulated issues [3][4] - Short-term factors such as extreme weather and adjustments in consumption subsidies have impacted July's economic data, but the introduction of macroeconomic policies in August is expected to promote effective investment and enhance domestic demand [4]

Core Viewpoints - Consumption and investment data have significantly weakened, but industrial production remains relatively resilient [3][88] - The economic indicators for July reflect some mid-term risks, but policies are being intensified, suggesting that economic growth will remain within a reasonable range in the second half of the year [5][90] Consumption - The social retail sales (社零) in July grew by 3.7%, lower than the expected 4.9% and previous value of 4.8%. The decline is attributed to the slow disbursement of national subsidy funds, particularly affecting "old-for-new" products [2][9] - Service consumption showed relative stability, with restaurant income slightly improving to 1.1% and cumulative service retail sales maintaining a high level at 5.2% year-on-year [3][88] - Categories such as furniture and home appliances saw significant declines in growth rates, with furniture down by 8.1 percentage points to 20.6% and home appliances down by 3.7 percentage points to 28.7% [3][9] Investment - Fixed asset investment in July fell sharply, reflecting short-term weather disturbances and mid-term impacts such as declining investment prices and a reduction in real estate projects. The monthly year-on-year decline was 4.6 percentage points to -4.7%, marking the lowest level since Q1 2020 [4][13] - The construction sector, particularly outdoor projects, was significantly affected by extreme weather, leading to a more substantial decline in infrastructure and real estate investments compared to overall fixed investment [4][13] - Manufacturing investment also saw a notable decline, with equipment purchase investment growth dropping by 11.3 percentage points to 6% [4][13] Real Estate - Real estate sales continued to decline in July, with corporate financing weakening and a lagging impact from reduced projects. The growth rate of corporate credit financing fell sharply by 13.5 percentage points to -15.8%, the lowest in two years [4][89] - New construction and completion areas also saw significant declines, with new starts down by 6% to -15.4% and completion areas down by 27.7% to -29.4% [4][89] - The average down payment ratio for home purchases decreased to 68.1%, indicating a shift in market dynamics [4][89] Production - Despite significant weaknesses in consumption and investment, industrial production maintained relative resilience, primarily due to improvements in export-related production chains. The industrial added value in July decreased by 1.1 percentage points to 5.7% year-on-year, but still remained at a high level [4][33] - Strong performance was noted in industries such as black metal rolling (8.6%), transportation equipment (13.7%), and general equipment (8.4%), while sectors like metal products and electrical machinery faced declines due to equipment updates and internal competition [4][33] Summary - The economic landscape in July continued to show weak domestic demand and strong external demand. Although short-term factors significantly influenced July's data, there is potential for further declines in manufacturing and real estate investments in the second half of the year. It remains crucial to enhance service and infrastructure investments and stabilize consumer demand [5][90]

Group 1: Consumer Loan Subsidy Policy - The central government has introduced a subsidy policy for personal consumer loans and service industry loans, referred to as "national subsidy" in the consumer loan sector [2][3] - The subsidy rate is set at 1 percentage point for both personal consumer loans and service industry loans, aimed at reducing credit costs for residents and businesses [2][3] - The policy targets consumption in key areas such as home appliances, automobiles, education, and healthcare, with specific conditions for loans to service industry entities [2][3] Group 2: Economic Indicators - In July, the industrial added value increased by 5.7% year-on-year, while retail sales of consumer goods grew by 3.7%, both showing a decline compared to June [4] - Fixed asset investment from January to July rose by 1.6%, indicating a slowdown in growth compared to the first half of the year [4] - The National Bureau of Statistics highlighted external challenges such as trade protectionism and extreme weather affecting economic performance [4] Group 3: Social Financing and Monetary Supply - As of the end of July, the total social financing scale reached 431.26 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 9% [5] - The increase in bond financing has significantly contributed to the growth of social financing, with government bond net financing up by 4.88 trillion yuan year-on-year [5] - The M2 money supply grew by 8.8% year-on-year, while M1 increased by 5.6%, indicating improved liquidity and efficiency in the financial system [5][6] Group 4: Stock Market Performance - The Shanghai Composite Index broke through the 3700-point mark, reaching a high of 3704.77 points, marking a significant recovery in the A-share market [7] - The number of new stock accounts opened in July surged by 71% year-on-year, reflecting increased investor enthusiasm [7] - Analysts suggest that the upward momentum in the stock market is supported by clear policy backing and the influx of new capital [7] Group 5: Trade Relations - The U.S. and China have agreed to suspend the implementation of 24% tariffs for 90 days, while retaining 10% tariffs on certain goods [8] - This agreement follows a series of trade talks aimed at reducing tensions and enhancing cooperation between the two nations [8] - The ongoing discussions indicate a willingness to engage in dialogue to resolve trade issues, although challenges remain [8] Group 6: Healthcare Policy - The National Healthcare Security Administration has published a list of drugs that passed the preliminary review for inclusion in the national medical insurance and commercial insurance innovation drug directories [9] - A total of 534 drugs were approved for the basic medical insurance directory, while 121 drugs were approved for the commercial insurance innovation directory [9][10] - The introduction of the commercial insurance innovation drug directory aims to support high-value innovative drugs and facilitate their market entry [10] Group 7: Taxation Policy - The Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration have released a draft for public consultation regarding the implementation of the Value-Added Tax Law, set to take effect on January 1, 2026 [11][12] - The draft aims to clarify regulations and enhance the operability of the tax system, although expectations for loan interest to be tax-deductible were not met [11][12] - The implementation of the VAT law is seen as a crucial step in establishing a comprehensive legal framework for taxation in China [12]

Economic Overview - In July, the national industrial added value above designated size increased by 5.7% year-on-year, while the total retail sales of consumer goods grew by 3.7% year-on-year. From January to July, fixed asset investment rose by 1.6% year-on-year [1] - The macro policies have shown effectiveness, helping the economy to maintain a stable and progressive development despite external complexities and extreme weather conditions [1] Consumer Market Insights - The retail sales of consumer goods and services combined showed a preliminary estimated growth of around 5% from January to July, indicating a steady expansion of consumption [2] - The "old-for-new" consumption policy has positively impacted sales, with significant year-on-year growth in categories such as home appliances (28.7%), cultural and office supplies (13.8%), furniture (20.6%), and communication equipment (14.9%) [2] - The service retail sector has also seen rapid growth, particularly in cultural and tourism-related services, driven by increased travel demand during the summer [2] Industrial Production Trends - In July, 35 out of 41 major industrial categories reported year-on-year growth, indicating a broad-based recovery in industrial production [4] - High-tech manufacturing added value increased by 9.3% year-on-year, with significant growth in the production of new energy vehicles (17.1%), lithium batteries (29.4%), and wind turbine generators (19.3%) [4] - The production of industrial and service robots also saw substantial increases, with industrial robots up by 24% and service robots by 12.8% [4] Economic Stability Factors - The economic foundation remains strong, with robust advantages and potential, supporting a stable economic operation despite existing risks and challenges [5] - The implementation of more proactive macro policies has expanded production demand and promoted stable economic growth [5] - Expectations for new policies aimed at stabilizing economic development are anticipated, with an acceleration in project funding and infrastructure investment [6]

Report Summary 1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Viewpoints - In July, China's economic performance was below expectations, with exports being the highlight, but the export growth rate is likely to decline in the future. To maintain rapid economic growth in the second half of the year, domestic demand needs to continue to play a role [5][12][19]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs Fixed Asset Investment - From January to July, the national fixed - asset investment increased by 1.6% year - on - year, lower than the market expectation of 2.7% and the 2.8% in January - June. General infrastructure investment (including electricity) increased by 7.3% year - on - year, down from 8.9% in January - June and 9.2% in 2024. Narrow - based infrastructure investment (excluding electricity) increased by 3.2% year - on - year, down from 4.6% in January - June and 4.4% in 2024. Manufacturing investment increased by 6.2% year - on - year, lower than the market expectation of 7.2% and the 7.5% in January - June. Real estate development investment decreased by 12.0% year - on - year, worse than the market expectation of a 11.5% decline and the 11.2% decline in January - June [2][6]. - In July, manufacturing investment decreased by 0.3% year - on - year, compared with a 5.1% increase in the previous month. Narrow - based infrastructure investment (excluding electricity) decreased by 5.1% year - on - year, compared with a 2.0% increase in the previous month [6]. Real Estate - From January to July, the sales area of new commercial housing decreased by 4.0% year - on - year, down from 3.5% in January - June and 12.9% in 2024. Since June, the decline rate of the national new - house sales area has accelerated. In July, the daily average transaction area of commercial housing in 30 large - and medium - sized cities decreased by 19% year - on - year [3][8]. - In July, the sales price of second - hand residential properties in first - tier cities decreased by 1.0% month - on - month, with the decline rate expanding by 0.3 percentage points from the previous month. In second - and third - tier cities, the sales price of second - hand residential properties decreased by 0.5% month - on - month, with the decline rate narrowing by 0.1 percentage points [3][8]. - In July, the funds available to real estate development enterprises decreased by 15.3% year - on - year, with the decline rate expanding from 9.1% in June. The new construction area decreased by 15.2% year - on - year, and the completed area decreased by 29.5% year - on - year, with the decline rates expanding from June [3][9]. Industrial Added Value - In July, the value - added of industrial enterprises above designated size increased by 5.7% year - on - year, slightly lower than the market expectation of 5.8% and the 6.8% in June. High - tech manufacturing maintained relatively fast growth, with a 9.3% year - on - year increase in July [10]. Foreign Trade - In July, China's exports denominated in US dollars increased by 7.2% year - on - year, higher than the expected 5.8% and the 5.9% in the previous month. Imports increased by 4.1% year - on - year, higher than the expected 0.3% and the 1.1% in the previous month. The trade surplus was 98.24 billion US dollars [11]. - In July, China's exports to ASEAN increased by 16.6% year - on - year, to the EU by 9.2% year - on - year, to the US decreased by 21.7% year - on - year, to South Korea increased by 4.6% year - on - year, and to Japan increased by 2.5% year - on - year. Exports to non - top five export countries and regions increased by 13.5% year - on - year, faster than the overall export growth rate [11]. - Considering the front - loading of exports in the first seven months and the relatively high base of export volume in the fourth quarter of last year, China's export growth rate is likely to decline in the future [12]. Consumption - In July, the total retail sales of consumer goods were 3.878 trillion yuan, a year - on - year increase of 3.7%, lower than the market expectation of 4.9% and the 4.8% in June. The growth rates of most categories related to the trade - in policy declined compared with June [15]. - The total retail sales of consumer goods decreased by 0.14% month - on - month in July, compared with a 0.26% decline in June after adjustment [15]. Service Industry and Unemployment Rate - In July, the national service industry production index increased by 5.8% year - on - year, lower than the 6.0% in June [19]. - In July, the national urban surveyed unemployment rate was 5.2%, up 0.2 percentage points from the previous month, the same as the same month last year [19].

Economic Overview - The economy in July shows signs of weak recovery, with a potential trend of high-to-low performance throughout the year, indicating increased volatility due to external uncertainties[1] - The nominal GDP is projected to reach around 140 trillion yuan, with limited elasticity in growth rates and GDP deflator index in the second half of the year[12] Industrial Growth - In July, the industrial added value increased by 5.7% year-on-year, slightly below market expectations, while month-on-month growth was 0.38%[14] - Manufacturing demand is recovering but showing signs of marginal slowdown, with the new orders index at 49.4%, indicating a decrease in manufacturing market demand[16] Consumer Spending - The retail sales of consumer goods in July grew by 3.7% year-on-year, down from 4.8% in June, with a notable decline of 1.1 percentage points[19] - Factors affecting retail sales include reduced funding for the "old-for-new" policy, which decreased from 162 billion yuan in the first half of 2025 to 138 billion yuan in the second half[21] Fixed Asset Investment - From January to July, fixed asset investment (excluding rural households) totaled 288.229 billion yuan, growing by 1.6%, which is below market expectations of 2.7%[29] - Infrastructure investment grew by 3.2%, while real estate development investment saw a significant decline of 12.0%[29] Employment Trends - The urban surveyed unemployment rate in July was 5.2%, slightly up from the previous month, reflecting seasonal pressures from the graduation season[6] - Employment policies are being implemented to mitigate youth unemployment, including support for job creation in various sectors[6] Investment Outlook - Manufacturing investment growth was 6.2% year-on-year, but July recorded a negative growth of -0.3%, the first negative reading since July 2020, primarily due to high base effects and uncertainties from trade tensions[45] - The overall investment environment remains cautious, with private investment declining by 1.5% year-on-year, particularly in the real estate sector[29]

Core Viewpoint - The economic data for July indicates a slowdown in China's economy, with both supply and demand sides experiencing challenges, leading to a mixed outlook for various sectors [1][3]. Consumption - Retail sales growth in July was 3.7%, below the market expectation of 4.8%, influenced by extreme weather and other short-term factors [4][5]. - The growth rate of commodity consumption fell to 4%, with notable resilience in demand for essential goods like grain and oil (8.6%) and home appliances (28.7%) [4][5]. - Service retail sales growth slightly decreased to 5.2%, with cultural and tourism consumption supported by government subsidies [7][8]. Fixed Asset Investment - Fixed asset investment growth was 1.6%, down 1.2 percentage points from the previous month, with infrastructure investment at 7.3% and manufacturing investment at 6.2% [9][12]. - Real estate investment continued to decline, with a year-on-year drop of 12%, and sales volume and value of commercial housing also decreased significantly [12][14]. Import and Export - July saw better-than-expected performance in imports and exports, with export growth in dollar terms rising to 7.2%, driven by strong demand from non-US regions [18][19]. - Trade surplus expanded to $98.24 billion, a year-on-year increase of 14.9% [18][19]. Supply - Industrial production showed stable growth, with a year-on-year increase of 5.7%, supported by resilient exports and government policies [21][22]. - The service sector maintained a growth rate of 6.0%, although there are concerns about the sustainability of this growth [21][22]. Inflation - Price pressures remained, with CPI inflation at 0% and PPI inflation at -3.6%, influenced by seasonal factors and international trade uncertainties [23][24]. Outlook - The economic outlook suggests rising uncertainties in external demand and persistent internal demand issues, with recent policies aimed at boosting consumption and investment expected to take effect gradually [25].

Core Viewpoints - Consumption and investment data have significantly weakened, but industrial production remains relatively resilient [3][88] - The economic indicators for July reflect some mid-term risks, but policies are being intensified, and economic growth is expected to remain within a reasonable range in the second half of the year [5][90] Consumption - In July, the year-on-year growth of social retail sales was 3.7%, down 1.1 percentage points from the previous value, primarily due to the slow disbursement of national subsidy funds [9][88] - The sales of furniture and home appliances saw significant declines, with furniture down 8.1 percentage points to 20.6% and home appliances down 3.7 percentage points to 28.7% [3][9] - Service consumption showed relative stability, with restaurant income slightly improving to 1.1% and cumulative service retail sales maintaining a high level at 5.2% year-on-year [3][9] Investment - Fixed asset investment in July fell sharply, reflecting short-term weather disturbances and mid-term impacts such as declining investment prices and the end of the equipment renewal cycle [4][13] - The year-on-year decline in fixed asset investment was 4.6 percentage points to -4.7%, marking the lowest level since Q1 2020 [4][13] - The construction progress was affected by extreme weather, with infrastructure and real estate investments experiencing greater declines than overall fixed investment [4][13] Real Estate - In July, real estate sales continued to decline, with corporate financing weakening and a lagging impact from reduced projects [4][89] - The growth rate of corporate credit financing dropped significantly by 13.5 percentage points to -15.8%, the lowest in nearly two years [4][89] - The sales area of commercial housing fell by 2.4 percentage points to -7.8%, indicating a slowdown in the release of pent-up demand [4][89] Production - Despite significant weaknesses in consumption and investment, industrial production maintained relative resilience, primarily due to improvements in export chain production [4][33] - The industrial added value year-on-year in July fell by 1.1 percentage points to 5.7%, but still remained at a high level [4][33] - Strong performance was noted in industries with robust export, such as black metal rolling and transportation equipment, while production in sectors like metal products and electrical machinery declined due to equipment renewal and internal competition [4][33] Summary - The economic indicators for July reflect some mid-term risks, with a continued pattern of weak domestic demand and strong external demand [5][90] - The second half of the year may see further declines in manufacturing and real estate investment, making it crucial to enhance service and infrastructure investment and stabilize consumer demand [5][90]

Economic Overview - In July, China's economic data showed a slight contraction in both supply and demand, with GDP growth estimated at 4.8%, down from 5.4%[2] - Industrial value added grew by 5.7% year-on-year, a decrease from 6.8% in the previous month, influenced by extreme weather conditions[2] - The service sector maintained strong growth, with a production index increase of 5.8%[2] Consumer Trends - Retail sales of consumer goods increased by 3.7% year-on-year in July, significantly down from 6.4% and 4.8% in May and June respectively[2] - Dining revenue growth remained low at 1.1%, indicating weak consumer spending in the restaurant sector[5] - The "old-for-new" policy continued to show diminishing returns, with retail growth in related sectors declining for two consecutive months[5] Investment Insights - Fixed asset investment growth for January to July was recorded at 1.6%, with real estate investment declining by 12.0%[21] - Infrastructure investment growth was only 3.2%, significantly lower than seasonal expectations, with July's investment growth estimated at -5.07%[4] - Manufacturing investment saw a marginal decline of 1.3 percentage points to 6.2%, with equipment updates being the only positive contributor[24] Real Estate Market - New residential property sales area decreased by 4.0% year-on-year, with sales value dropping by 6.5%[39] - The average price of new homes in major cities showed a narrowing decline, while second-hand home prices continued to fall, indicating unstable demand[39] - Real estate development investment totaled 53,580 billion yuan, with a monthly estimated decline of 17%[45] Employment Situation - The urban unemployment rate rose to 5.2%, with local household unemployment increasing to 5.3%[58] - The demand for labor from external sources remained strong due to robust industrial production, but uncertainty in future employment needs led to higher local unemployment rates[64]