China Chart Pack Omicron tests China’s zero-COVID strategy The global spread of a more transmissible COVID variant is a particular challenge for a country trying to remain COVID-free. But after nearly two years of success suppressing infections domestically... 29th November 2021 · 13 mins read
China Economics Weekly Capacity constraints put a ceiling on export outlook In the long-run, the global spread of highly-transmissible coronavirus strains may make China’s zero-COVID stance untenable but the immediate response to concerns about B.1.1.529 is more likely to be... 26th November 2021 · 5 mins read
China Activity Monitor Service sector recovery remains lacklustre Our China Activity Proxy (CAP) shows that growth ticked up last month as energy shortages eased and the service sector continued to recover from virus disruptions over the summer. But the rebound... 24th November 2021 · 3 mins read
China Economics Update LPR on hold but wider easing already underway The Loan Prime Rate (LPR) remained unchanged for the 19th consecutive month today. But officials are already easing policy in other ways, such as by relaxing constraints on mortgage lending. The PBOC... 22nd November 2021 · 3 mins read
China Data Response China Activity & Spending (Oct.) Industrial growth rebounded last month as energy shortages eased. But this pick-up is likely to be short-lived given the deepening downturn in property construction. And while retail sales also... 15th November 2021 · 3 mins read
China Economics Weekly Policymakers are stressing developers not markets This week’s sell-off in Chinese high-yield dollar bonds is not a good measure of the stress facing Chinese developers. These bonds account for less than a tenth of developer debt. Their key creditors... 12th November 2021 · 5 mins read
China Data Response China Bank Lending & Broad Credit (Oct.) Broad credit growth levelled off in October having previously decelerated to its slowest pace since December 2005. There are some signs that PBOC policy is turning more supportive in response to... 10th November 2021 · 2 mins read
China Data Response China Consumer & Producer Prices (Oct.) Producer price inflation continued to surge and reached a new high last month. But this largely reflects temporary disruption in a handful of industries from energy shortages, which are already easing... 10th November 2021 · 3 mins read
China Data Response China Trade (Oct.) Exports continued to soar last month while imports took another leg down despite directives to raise coal supply amid power rationing. As a result, the trade surplus reached its highest level since... 8th November 2021 · 3 mins read
China Economics Weekly Outbreak threatens growth, food panic overdone Our downbeat growth forecasts are largely based on expectations for a deepening downturn in construction and industry. But a worsening COVID-19 outbreak means the biggest near-term threat could be a... 5th November 2021 · 7 mins read
China Data Response Hong Kong GDP (Q3 Preliminary) Hong Kong’s economy largely treaded water last quarter, with weaker exports and investment meaning the rebound from Q2’s downturn was much more tepid than expected. The pace of recovery is likely to... 1st November 2021 · 2 mins read
China Data Response China PMIs (Oct.) The manufacturing PMIs diverged again this month. But the big picture is that power rationing and supply shortages continued to constrain output and push up prices. 1st November 2021 · 4 mins read
China Economics Weekly Renminbi’s strength carries echoes of 2015 The renminbi has risen 10% in trade-weighted terms since the middle of last year, reaching its strongest level in over five years this week. The last time we witnessed such rapid gains, they... 29th October 2021 · 6 mins read
China Chart Pack Energy shortages starting to ease Despite a flurry of media reports in September hinting at widespread disruption, the data suggest that China’s recent power shortages have not been too severe. Electricity output actually rose 0.6% in... 29th October 2021 · 7 mins read
China Economic Outlook Downturn setting in The economy slowed sharply in Q3. Weakness in services is already reversing as virus controls have been relaxed again. But industry and construction are on the cusp of a deeper downturn that could... 26th October 2021 · 23 mins read
China Activity Monitor Services recovering but outlook still gloomy Our China Activity Proxy (CAP) shows that output rebounded last month as the disruption to the service sector from virus outbreaks eased. But this wasn’t enough to prevent a sharp contraction last... 25th October 2021 · 3 mins read
