China retail sales, industrial output, investment data for January – February 2025. January and February combined to help ease the volatility the data would show otherwise over the moveable Lunar new Year holiday.
Retail Sales 4.0%
- expected 4.0%, prior 3.7%
Industrial Production 5.9%
- expected 5.3%, prior 6.2%
Fixed Asset Investment 4.1%
- expected 3.2%, prior 3.2%
Unemployment Rate 5.4%
- expected 5.1%, prior 5.1%
These are better figures, except for the jobless rise. I suspect that a rising unemployment rate will prompt more stimulus from China more than other data point. Indeed, we are getting a steady flow of stimulus announcements. This the latest:
More:
- Weekend – China city Shenzen announced eased housing finance rules
- ICYMI: $US3 to 5 billion in US beef, pork and chicken trade to China is at risk
- Weekend – China released a 30-point plan aimed at boosting domestic consumption
More from the data:
- Property investment -9.8% y/y in January – February (fell 10.6% in 2024)
- Property sales by floor area -5.1% y/y (fell 12.9% in 2024)
- New construction starts measured by floor area -29.6% y/y (-23.0% in 2024)
- Funds raised by China’s property developers -3.6% y/y (fell 17.0% in 2024)
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.