Economic Overview - July economic data shows signs of slowdown, with only exports accelerating while industrial, service, consumption, investment, and real estate sales all underperformed compared to previous values, indicating a divergence in internal and external demand [1][6] - The actual GDP index estimated from industrial value added and service production index year-on-year is approximately 5.02%, while the estimate based on industrial value added and retail sales is about 4.79%, both lower than the second quarter [1][6] Industrial Performance - Industrial value added year-on-year growth is 5.7%, down from 6.8% previously, with a month-on-month seasonally adjusted increase of 0.38%, only higher than April's tariff impact [7][9] - Major product output shows significant declines in coal production growth, while new industry products like smartphones and robots also saw decreased growth rates; however, integrated circuits and power generation equipment remain at high growth levels [9][10] - The industrial enterprise sales rate increased to 97.1%, the second highest this year, indicating improved supply-demand relationships despite lower industrial supply [11] Consumer Spending - Retail sales year-on-year growth is 3.7%, down from 4.8%, with a month-on-month seasonally adjusted decline of 0.14% [12][13] - Key sectors dragging down retail performance include dining and tobacco, as well as automotive sales, which turned negative for the first time in five months, likely due to price competition constraints [12][13] - Growth in household appliances and mobile phones remains high, but cumulative growth has slowed compared to the first half of the year, influenced by the gradual release of demand and lower national subsidy fund balances [12][13] Investment Trends - Fixed asset investment cumulative year-on-year growth is 1.6%, down from 2.8%, with a month-on-month decline of 5.2% [13][14] - Manufacturing, infrastructure, and real estate investments all showed significant month-on-month declines, with manufacturing attributed to high equipment renewal funding released in the first half of the year [13][14] - Infrastructure investment's unexpected decline may be due to weather disturbances and the timing of new project approvals and financial tools, with local investment showing reduced activity [13][14] Real Estate Sector - The real estate sector continues to slow, with declines in sales, new starts, construction, investment, and funding availability [16][17] - The average price of new and second-hand homes in 70 cities showed slight month-on-month declines of 0.3% and 0.5%, respectively, indicating limited changes from trend values [16][17] - Recent policy adjustments in Beijing aim to stabilize the real estate market, suggesting that further policy support may be necessary to prevent continued declines [16][17] Overall Economic Sentiment - July's soft data, including PMI and BCI, along with credit and economic data, indicate a consistent trend of slowdown, aligning with the previously mentioned "deceleration zone" [5][18] - Ongoing macroeconomic policies are emerging, particularly focused on supporting service consumption, which is expected to gradually bolster consumer spending [5][18] - Local investment and real estate are identified as key sources of the overall data slowdown, with effective investment being a crucial part of terminal demand [5][18]