China Data Response

PMIs (Mar.)

China’s official PMI rose in March but, when seasonal factors are taken into account, both it and the alternative index from Markit/HSBC are consistent with the idea that growth has slowed moderately...

1st April 2011 · 1 min read

China Data Response

Foreign Trade (Feb.)

China’s unexpected trade deficit in February reflects both distortions around Chinese New Year and the impact high commodity prices are having on China’s import bill. Leading indicators of export...

10th March 2011 · 1 min read

China Data Response

PMIs (Feb.)

China’s two PMIs fell further last month and are now consistent with a pace of growth slower than the average of the last few years. Firms report that input prices are rising fast but the prices they...

1st March 2011 · 1 min read

China Data Response

Foreign Trade (Jan.)

The doubling of import and export growth between December and January seems to reflect not just the usual volatility around Chinese New Year but also confidence among manufacturers about the prospects...

14th February 2011 · 1 min read

China Data Response

PMIs (Jan.)

China’s two PMIs give some conflicting messages for January, but the overall impression is that activity is no longer accelerating and that inflation pressures, while still high, have declined.

1st February 2011 · 1 min read

China Data Response

NBS business conditions survey (Q4)

Most companies in China finished 2010 confident about the future. The business environment still seems skewed in favour of large and state-owned firms, which enjoy more government support...

10th January 2011 · 1 min read

China Data Response

Foreign Trade (Dec.)

A combination of strong domestic demand and high commodity prices is helping to narrow China’s trade surplus but the imbalance with the US remains wide.

10th January 2011 · 1 min read

China Data Response

PMIs (Nov.)

China’s latest PMIs provide more evidence that the economic rebound remains very strong. Output price inflation has picked up, but the strength of the economy means that policymakers can tighten...

1st December 2010 · 1 min read

China Data Response

Hong Kong GDP (Q3)

Hong Kong’s economy outperformed expectations last quarter thanks to strong spending by residents on the back of a strong labour market recovery and a surge in spending by tourists. The overheated...

12th November 2010 · 1 min read

China Data Response

Foreign Trade, Property (Oct.)

China’s trade surplus has continued to widen, despite a recent run of strength in imports. The stage is set for a tense G20 summit.

10th November 2010 · 1 min read

China Data Response

PMIs (Oct.)

China’s latest PMIs suggest that the economic rebound has further to go. Input prices have picked up, but manufacturers are not passing price increases on to consumers. As a result, the People’s Bank...

1st November 2010 · 1 min read

China Data Response

NBS business conditions survey (Q3)

Confidence among Chinese firms recovered in Q3 as worries about the outlook for the real estate sector faded.

14th October 2010 · 1 min read

China Data Response

Sustained surpluses and massive FX intervention

China's overall trade surplus may have declined slightly last month, but tensions are unlikely to do the same. Q3's monthly surpluses with the US were the three largest on record. Meanwhile, the value...

13th October 2010 · 1 min read

China Data Response

HSBC/Markit PMI (Sep.)

There was further evidence in today’s PMI that China’s economy has bottomed out and is now regaining momentum. Meanwhile, price pressures are still subdued.

29th September 2010 · 1 min read

China Data Response

International Trade, Property Market (Aug.)

There were further encouraging signs in today’s import data that domestic demand is firming up after a shaky few months. The trade surplus is still gaping wide though. Tensions over the renminbi are...

10th September 2010 · 1 min read