China Rapid Response GDP (Q4) & Activity (Dec.) China’s economy lost momentum in Q4 according to the official GDP figures. But we suspect that’s because they failed to acknowledge the full extent of the weakness earlier in the year. 17th January 2024 · 2 mins read
China Rapid Response Policy Rates (Jan.) Despite a cut being widely expected, the MLF was again kept unchanged today – for a fifth straight month. The main factor holding the PBOC back was probably lingering concerns about the renminbi. This... 15th January 2024 · 3 mins read
China Rapid Response Bank Lending & Broad Credit (Dec.) The rebound in broad credit growth remained on track thanks to a step up in government borrowing. But growth in bank loans undershot expectations, dropping to its lowest level in over two decades... 12th January 2024 · 3 mins read
China Rapid Response Merchandise Trade (Dec.) China’s export values rose y/y at the fastest rate since April. And while export volumes only ticked up slightly, they remain near a record high. We are sceptical that this strength is sustainable... 12th January 2024 · 2 mins read
China Rapid Response Consumer & Producer Prices (Dec.) Smaller y/y declines in a food and energy prices meant that both CPI and PPI deflation eased last month, a trend that we think will continue over the coming quarters. But concerns about low inflation... 12th January 2024 · 2 mins read
China Rapid Response PMIs (Dec.) The official and Caixin PMIs have moved in opposite directions recently. But taken together, they point to some improvement in economic momentum in December thanks to gains in services and... 2nd January 2024 · 4 mins read
China Rapid Response Activity & Spending (Nov.) The main bright spot was a healthy pick-up in industrial output thanks to the strength in exports. Retail sales and fixed investment remained resilient. Meanwhile, troubles in the property sector... 15th December 2023 · 4 mins read
China Rapid Response Bank Lending & Broad Credit (Nov.) Broad credit growth continued to rise in November thanks to a pick-up in government bond issuance, but it still came in below expectations. We think further policy support is on the way, but this is... 13th December 2023 · 3 mins read
China Rapid Response Consumer & Producer Prices (Nov.) CPI fell deeper into deflationary territory last month. The main culprit continues to be food and energy prices – the rate of core inflation held steady and remains positive. Services inflation, the... 11th December 2023 · 6 mins read
China Rapid Response Merchandise Trade (Nov.) China’s export values rose year-on-year for the first time since May while the level of export volumes hit a fresh high, supported by exporters reducing prices. We doubt this robustness will persist... 7th December 2023 · 2 mins read
China Rapid Response PMIs (Nov.) Taken at face value, the PMIs suggest that the economy made some headway in November. However, they still point to a marked slowdown in recent months. That may not be the case in practice – the hard... 30th November 2023 · 4 mins read
China Rapid Response Activity & Spending (Oct.) Retail sales and industrial output remained resilient at the start of Q4. Fixed investment is still fairly subdued while tentative signs of improvement in the property sector appears to have fizzled... 15th November 2023 · 4 mins read
China Rapid Response Consumer & Producer Prices (Oct.) CPI slipped back into deflationary territory last month. This was mostly due to a drop in food inflation. But core inflation declined too, adding to evidence of renewed economic weakness. Nonetheless... 9th November 2023 · 3 mins read
China Rapid Response Merchandise Trade (Oct.) The year-on-year contraction in export values deepened last month. But this was mainly due to lower export prices. Export volumes were little changed after hitting a record high in September. We doubt... 7th November 2023 · 3 mins read
China Rapid Response Hong Kong GDP (Q3 Preliminary) Hong Kong’s economy largely treaded water in Q3, underperforming most expectations. A jump in investment and a pick-up in government spending barely offset further struggles in the trade logistics... 31st October 2023 · 3 mins read
China Rapid Response PMIs (Oct.) The PMI surveys were unexpectedly weak across the board, with the composite measure falling to its lowest in eight years outside of COVID lockdowns. If this slowdown is confirmed by the hard data then... 31st October 2023 · 4 mins read
