How Bad is China's Economic Slowdown? Is it a Recession?
Who will save the global economy if the main engine of global economic growth, China, is slowing down? As growth in major global economies slows a result of high inflation, many hoped that China would come to the world's rescue.
Unfortunately, China is also suffering from its problems. To everyone's shock, the Chinese economy grew only by 0.4% YoY in Q2 of 2022, missing forecasts of 1% and slowing sharply from a 4.8% growth in Q1, recording the softest pace of expansion since a contraction in 2020, when the initial coronavirus outbreak emerged in Wuhan.
Yes, China's economy is still growing but at a much slower pace, making everyone concerned about the main driver of global economic growth. Goldman Sachs cut its forecast for China's GDP growth this year to 3% from 3.3%. That marks the third cut by the Wall Street bank since May.
What’s wrong with the Chinese numbers?
The devil in the details:
1. Industrial production grew by 3.8% in July, following a 3.9% rise in June, and strongly missed the forecast of 4.6%.
2. Retail sales rose by 2.7% year-on-year in July, below market estimates of 5% and after a 3.1% growth last month, pointing to slowing consumer spending.
3. Youth unemployment hit a new record in July, with unemployment among the 16 to 24-year-olds rising to 19.9%.
4. Property sales contracted 29%, deeper than the 18% fall in June.
5. Construction starts declined 45%, unchanged from June.
Is China's economy slowing?
The second-largest economy in the world is struggling with repeated lockdowns under China's strict zero-COVID policy, a worsening property and real estate crisis, the worst heatwave in 60 years with some provinces shutting factories to save power, and declining in demand and output.
China's economy is on a path for its slowest growth in decades. Its factories are selling less to the world, and its consumers are spending less at home.
1. Commodity says China is slowing
China's production affects the global economy directly through the prices of commodities, especially industrial metals. The main Chinese iron ore contract has fallen dramatically since its peak last year, while copper dropped sharply this year, a clear sign of weaker demand.
2. Housing prices decline
For decades, buying property was considered a safe investment in China, but now it's related to a lot of trouble. China’s new home prices fell for the 11th straight month in a row for the period ended on July 31, 2022.
The pace of homebuilding has not been this slow since 2009. The result is an extra supply of metals like Iron ore, metallurgical coal, and copper which are essential materials for construction.
3. Chinese oil refiners processing less crude
Chinese oil refiners have been processing 10% less crude oil since April due to the decline in petrol demand with weaker consumer spending and industrial output. China’s weaker demand for oil has been a counter move to the tight grip on global energy supplies caused by the war in Ukraine.
How did the People's Bank of China and markets react?
After disappointing economic data, the PBOC announced surprise and unexpected interest rate cuts to boost its struggling economy. But the tiny one-tenth of a percentage point last week is unlikely to help economic activity.
Chinese stocks in Hong Kong rallied for the 40 minutes between the PBOC announcement and the release of more data, then gave up all their gains and dropped more.
HK50 remains under pressure and may revisit May lows around 19080. The pair USDCNY has been up by more than 8% since February.
