CHINA+ DATA WRAP 16 March 2026: China's activity data improves in Jan-Feb

China's consumer spending was boosted by longer holiday
infrastructure investment rebounds thanks to policy support
Industrial output lifted by export demand

16 March 2026 China+ Monitor China's domestic demand likely still sluggish in January-to-February

• We expect little improvement in China’s consumption activity in January-to-February in the data out today...
• ...Falling car sales should off set higher holiday spending, while the FAI improvement will be slow.
• Government-bond issuance continues to prop up broad credit growth; corporate credit should edge up.

13 March 2026 China+ Monitor China's robust exports reduce pressure to spur domestic demand

• China’s exports sustained a robust performance in the first two months of 2026...
• ...Meaning policymakers feel little pressure to spur domestic demand in the near term.
• Falling land sales in the first two months point to sustained property investment weakness.

PM Datanote: BoK Decision, Korea, February

In one line: Bank of Korea hold rates at 2.50%; Adding Fed-style dot plot to anchor market expectations, signals six months hold

PM Datanote: 20-Day Exports, Korea, February

In one line: Korea’s 20-day exports surge in February on semiconductors, despite fewer working days, as DRAM prices soar in Q1

PM Datanote: Exports, Japan, January

In one line: Japan exports spike on Lunar New Year boost, strong momentum unlikely to last.

10 March 2026 China+ Monitor China's low inflation cushions against energy-price shock

• China’s consumer inflation in January-February, at 0.8%, was in line with the previous two months.
• Low inflation and sluggish domestic demand leave ample room to absorb an energy-price surge. 
• Producer inflation continued to improve in February, thanks to oil and non-ferrous metals prices. 

PM Datanote: Preliminary GDP, Japan, Q4

In one line: Japan’s softer than expected GDP outturn reinforces our case for a later than market rate hike.

PM Datanote: Current Account, China, Q4 (Preliminary)

In one line: China’s Q4 current account surplus surges on strong goods exports 

CHINA+ DATA WRAP 11 February 2026: China's PPI reflation remains patchy; CPI falls back on Lunar New Year timing

China's PPI reflation remains patchy; CPI falls back on Lunar New Year timing

PM Datanote: PPI, China, January

In one line: China’s PPI deflation eases further in January, but improvements were patchy.

PM Datanote: Foreign Reserves, China, January

In one line: China’s FX reserves jumped in January on factors beyond valuation effects.

PM Datanote: Foreign Reserves, China, February

In one line: China’s FX reserves rose further in February amid RMB strength, partly driven by exporters repatriating overseas USD proceeds.

CHINA+ DATA WRAP 9 March 2026: Consumer inflation gets holiday bump

In one line: Consumer inflation gets holiday bump; Producer inflation continued to improve, ahead of oil price surge

9 March 2026 China+ Monitor China sticks to its growth vision based on technology and industry

• China’s 15th Five-Year Plan confirms the emphasis on technology and manufacturing to power growth...
• ...We expect continued success on this front, but little progress in rebalancing to consumption and services.
• Services development is hampered by low education; 65-to-70% of workers lack a high-school diploma.

CHINA+ DATA WRAP 5 March 2026: China's lower growth target

In one line: China's lower growth target signals priority for structural adjustment over short-term growth

6 March 2026 China+ Monitor China seeks to project stability, while gradually patching up domestic issues

• Premier Li set a lower growth target for 2026, as we expected, to put the focus on structural adjustment…
• …China is reliant on export growth, but that could be in jeopardy given geopolitical tensions and trade risks.
• Korea would be more vulnerable than Japan and China to a prolonged oil-price spike.

5 March 2026 China+ Monitor China NPC and Paris trade talks unfold amid escalating US-Iran conflict

• China’s NPC meeting commences today; we expect a lower growth target and a focus on tech self-reliance…
• …US-China trade representatives will meet in Paris next weekend, ahead of April’s Xi-Trump Beijing summit. 
• The conflict in Iran likely adds 0.1pp to East Asian inflation over a few months, due to logistics issues.

CHINA+ DATA WRAP 3 March 2026: Korean PMI points to building inflation pressure

In one line: Korean PMI points to building inflation pressure

4 March 2026 China+ Monitor Industrial sector prioritisation limits China's options for rebalancing

• Premier Li is likely to trim the 2025 growth target tomorrow, putting the focus on medium-term goals.
• China will probably step up the rhetoric on consumption, but without the matching substance.
• Policymakers are reluctant to shift support away from industrial policy, seen as key to China’s success.