Main Topic: China's inflation data for July
Key Points:
1. Consumer price index (CPI) fell by 0.3% in July from a year ago, but was up by 0.2% compared to June.
2. Producer price index (PPI) fell by 4.4% in July from a year ago, better than the decline in June.
3. Both CPI and PPI are in deflation territory, indicating weakening economic momentum and lacklustre domestic demand.
### Summary
The Chinese economy has slipped into deflationary mode, with retail sales, industrial production, and exports all missing forecasts. Shrinking domestic demand and a debt-fueled housing crisis are the main causes behind this slowdown.
### Facts
- 📉 Retail sales in July grew by 2.5% year-on-year, compared to 3.1% in June.
- 🏭 Value-added industrial output expanded by 3.7% y-o-y, slowing from 4.4% growth in June.
- 📉 China's exports fell by 14.5% in July compared to the previous year, and imports dropped 12.4%.
- 💼 Overall unemployment rate rose to 5.3% in July, with youth unemployment at a record 21.3% in June.
- 📉 Consumer Price Index-based inflation dropped to (-)0.3%, indicating a deflationary situation.
- 🏢 China's debt is estimated at 282% of GDP, higher than that of the US.
### Causes of the slowdown
- The debt-fueled housing sector collapse, which contributes to 30% of China's GDP.
- Stringent zero-Covid strategy and lockdown measures that stifled the domestic economy and disrupted global supply chains.
- Geopolitical tensions and crackdowns on the tech sector, resulting in revenue losses and job cuts.
### Reaction of global markets
- The S&P 500 fell 1.2% following the grim Chinese data.
- US Treasury Secretary warns China's slowing economy is a risk factor for the US economy.
- Japanese stocks and the Indian Nifty were also impacted.
- China's central bank cut its benchmark lending rate, but investors were hoping for more significant stimulus measures.
### Global market concerns
- China's struggle to achieve the 5% growth target may impact global demand.
- China is the world's largest manufacturing economy and consumer of key commodities.
- A slowdown in China could affect global growth, with the IMF's forecast of 35% growth contribution by China seeming unlikely.
### Impact on India
- India's aim to compete with China in the global supply chain could benefit if Chinese exports decline.
- However, if China cuts back on commodity production due to slowing domestic demand, it may push commodity prices higher.
### Summary
Oil prices rose in Asian trade, unfazed by China's disappointing interest rate cut, as the prospect of tighter supplies supported the outlook.
### Facts
- 💰 Oil prices rose in Asian trade, shrugging off China's interest rate cut.
- 🛢️ Concerns over slowing demand in China and rising US interest rates had driven steep losses in crude prices.
- 📉 China cut its one-year loan prime rate by 10 basis points to 3.45%, disappointing market forecasts for a larger cut.
- 🏢 Lack of changes in the mortgage rate raised concerns over a worsening real estate crisis in China.
- 🌍 Deep production cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia are expected to limit crude supplies by nearly 70 million barrels over 45 days.
- 🇺🇸 Robust fuel consumption in the US, particularly during the summer season, pointed to tighter markets.
- 📈 Analysts expect oil prices to remain relatively higher for the rest of the year, despite the prospect of higher interest rates affecting US demand.
### Summary
European stock markets edged higher, supported by a drop in German producer prices and a smaller-than-expected rate cut from China. German producer prices fell significantly in July, indicating a retreat in inflationary pressures. The European Central Bank is considering a pause in its hiking cycle, which could help alleviate economic difficulties in Germany. In China, the rate cut announced by the People's Bank of China was seen as underwhelming, as analysts had expected a larger cut. The U.K. housing market also slumped, with the fastest decline in August since 2018. Oil prices rebounded, supported by the Chinese rate cut and expectations of lower output from top producers in August.
### Facts
- 📉 German producer prices dropped 1.1% in July and fell 6.0% annually, indicating a retreat in inflationary pressures.
- 🇩🇪 Economic difficulties in Germany are affecting the eurozone's growth and may lead to a recession.
- 🏦 ECB President's speech at Jackson Hole will provide clues on the central bank's next move in September.
- 🇨🇳 The People's Bank of China announced a smaller-than-expected rate cut, disappointing analysts.
- 🏘️ The U.K. housing market experienced its fastest decline in August since 2018.
- 🛢️ Oil prices rose due to the Chinese rate cut and expectations of lower output from top producers.
### Summary
China's fiscal revenue rose 11.5% in the first seven months of 2023, but at a slower pace than the previous six months, indicating a loss of economic momentum.
### Facts
- 💰 China's fiscal revenue increased by 11.5% in the first seven months of 2023.
- 💸 Fiscal expenditure grew by 3.3% to 15.2 trillion yuan ($2.10 trillion).
- 📉 In July, fiscal revenue only rose 1.9% year on year, slower than the previous month's increase.
- 📉 Fiscal expenditure fell 0.8% in July, narrowing the decline compared to the previous month.
- 🌍 China's economy grew at a sluggish pace in the second quarter due to weak demand domestically and internationally.
- 📉 The consumer sector in China experienced deflation in July, with analysts predicting persisting price stagnation for the next six to 12 months.
China is facing a severe economic downturn, with record youth unemployment, a slumping housing market, stagnant spending, and deflation, which has led to a sense of despair and reluctance to spend among consumers and business owners, potentially fueling a dangerous cycle.
Profits at China's industrial firms fell 6.7% in July, marking the seventh consecutive month of decline, as weak demand continues to hinder the country's post-pandemic recovery.
China's commodities sector, including coal mining and metals production, is experiencing declining profits due to the worsening property crisis and economic slowdown, with steel producers being the hardest hit. However, there is potential for growth in metals firms linked to the energy transition, particularly in China's green copper consumption driven by electric vehicles and renewable power.
China's economy is not as bad as perceived, with consumer spending picking up and indicating that growth is moving in the right direction, according to an official at the British Chamber of Commerce in China.
Consumer spending in China rebounded in August, with all categories, including apparel, automotive, food, furniture, appliances, and luxury, experiencing increased sales compared to July, according to a survey by the China Beige Book. Retail sales in July rose by 2.5% year-on-year, raising concerns about China's economic growth, but the August survey showed a surge in spending, particularly in the services sector, which saw continued strength in travel and hospitality. Additionally, corporate borrowing increased as the cost of capital declined, indicating a boost in business activity. However, China's property sector continued to worsen, with house prices barely growing and home sales declining.
Chinese consumer spending has rebounded in certain sectors, but concerns persist over the property market and GDP growth falling below 5%, according to Shehzad Qazi, managing director of China Beige Book.
Falling prices in China, driven by a weakened economy, could benefit countries with elevated inflation such as the U.S., India, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Tesla was able to boost its sales in China by 9.3% in August, thanks to price cuts.
China's economic growth has slowed but has not collapsed, and while there are concerns about financial risks and a potential property crisis, there are also bright spots such as the growth of the new energy and technology sectors that could boost the economy.
China's imports and exports experienced a monthly decline in August, with exports falling by 8.8% and imports falling by 7.3%, indicating ongoing challenges despite some slight improvement.
China's passenger vehicle sales experienced growth in August, driven by discounts and tax breaks on environmentally friendly and electric cars, despite a weak economy, and Tesla's share of the Chinese electric vehicle market nearly doubled.
China's consumer price index rebounded in August after slipping into deflation in July, indicating a post-Covid economic recovery, despite sluggish domestic consumption and concerns of a relapse into deflation in the coming months.
China's consumer prices rose slightly and the decline in factory-gate prices slowed in August, indicating easing deflation pressures and signs of stabilization in the economy, although more policy support is needed to boost consumer demand.
China's consumer prices returned to positive territory in August as deflation pressures ease, but analysts warn that more policy support is needed to boost consumer demand in the economy.
The global food commodity prices experienced a 2.1 percent decline in August, primarily driven by falling prices of essential food items, excluding rice and sugar, according to the latest report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO).
China's retail sales and industrial production exceeded expectations in August, with retail sales growing by 4.6% and industrial production growing by 4.5%, but fixed asset investment lagging behind at 3.2%, indicating potential instability in the external environment.
China's factory output and retail sales grew at a faster pace in August, but declining investment in the property sector poses a threat to the country's economic recovery.
Producer prices rose more than expected in August, signaling further inflationary pressures due to a surge in energy costs.
Chinese economic data showed signs of improvement in August, with retail sales and industrial production exceeding expectations, and key commodities experiencing growth, although challenges remain in the property market.
China's economic data for August shows a mixed picture, with retail sales and production on the rise, property investment declining, and the urban jobless rate ticking downward, leading experts to believe that while there may be modest improvements in growth, a strong recovery is still unlikely.
China's economy showed positive signs of recovery in August, with an increase in industrial output, retail sales, and consumer inflation, indicating resilience despite concerns of "stagnation" or "collapse" in Western media reports; willingness to spend also recovered, with an increase in residents' income, per capita consumption spending, and domestic tourism; furthermore, China's exports remained resilient, with a steady increase in the export share of intermediate and capital goods, outweighing the decline in the export share of consumer goods.
Asia-Pacific markets fell ahead of China's industrial data and Australia's inflation figures, while the US experienced a sell-off after disappointing economic data, causing the Dow Jones Industrial Average to fall below its 200-day moving average for the first time since May. Additionally, oil prices continue to rise, putting crude on track for its best quarter in over a year, and Tesla shares dropped after reports of an EU investigation into whether the company and other European carmakers are receiving unfair subsidies for exporting from China.
Profits at China's industrial firms decreased by 11.7% in the first eight months of the year, but the pace of decline eased slightly, suggesting a modest recovery is taking place due to policy support measures.
China's small economic rebound appears to have stalled in September, with weak retail sales, manufacturing production, and loan growth, raising concerns about anemic third-quarter growth and the country falling short of its growth target.
Chinese consumers are gravitating towards discounted prices, leading to a price war among coffee store giants such as Luckin Coffee and Cotti Coffee, as shoppers aim to save money in response to a slumping economy and reduced incomes, signaling a worrying shift towards thrift in China's consumer spending habits.
