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China+ Publications

Below is a list of our China+ Publications for the last 6 months. If you are looking for reports older than 6 months please email info@pantheonmacro.com, or contact your account rep

Please use the filters on the right to search for a specific date or topic.

Daily Monitor

18 April 2024 China+ Monitor Solid Japanese exports lifted by Chinese demand and a weak yen

  • Japan’s exports grew solidly in March, thanks to burgeoning Chinese demand and a weaker JPY.
  • Demand from the US and EU slowed, car-related shipments fell sharply, but chip exports soared.
  • The export recovery will be safeguarded by the ICT upturn, while capital goods demand should improve.

Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+

17 April 2024 China+ Monitor Chinese GDP growth rises in Q1, but output is outpacing demand

  • China’s Q1 GDP growth picked up, thanks to robust industrial output and consumer services spending.
  • But a marked fall in industrial capacity utilisation points to burgeoning oversupply issues...
  • …Fiscal stimulus should boost demand to mitigate the oversupply, eventually; meanwhile, PPI deflation.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

16 April 2024 China+ Monitor PBoC holds the MLF rate steady, despite lacklustre domestic demand

  • The PBoC left the MLF rate unchanged yesterday, likely wary of currency pressure.
  • Social financing growth slowed in March, due to soft domestic demand and lower bond issuance.
  • Government-bond issuance is likely to pick up in Q2, the key plank of short-term growth support.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

12 April 2024 China+ Monitor China's latest inflation prints underscore weak domestic demand

  • China’s inflation data point to lacklustre domestic demand post-New Year, while supply rose.
  • Core CPI dropped sharply to half its long-run average; industry is still facing deflationary pressure.
  • The US economy is steaming ahead, giving the PBoC
    a dilemma: lower rates or keep RMB stable.

Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+

11 April 2024 China+ Monitor China's uneven recovery set to make only halting progress

  • China’s GDP growth should increase slightly in Q1 quarter-to-quarter, but severe imbalances persist.
  • A robust industrial sector contrasts with plunging new-property sales and flat consumption activity.
  • Policy support for consumer goods trade-ins and equipment upgrades should be incrementally helpful.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

5 April 2024 China+ Monitor Japan's Tankan survey points to still-tepid manufacturing activity

  • Japan’s Tankan for large manufacturers deteriorated for the first time in a year.
  • The silver lining is optimism for the non-manufacturing sector, storming to its highest since 1991.
  • Nothing in the survey will surprise the BoJ, and we expect interest rates to reach 0.20% by end-2024.

Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+

3 April 2024 China+ Monitor Hopeful signs of a gradually broadening recovery in China

  • China’s March official and Caixin manufacturing PMIs were both above 50 for the first time since September.
  • A strong industrial sector is generating demand for business services too.
  • But the lacklustre labour market and dismal property sector will limit the speed of China’s recovery.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

28 March 2024 China+ Monitor China's industrial profits surge on base effects; awaiting spending boost

  • China’s industrial profits soared, on the low base last year when the country emerged from zero-Covid.
  • Capital equipment and consumption goods manufacturing make up most of the profit improvement.
  • We expect a firmer recovery after the implementation of the action plans to upgrade consumption.

Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+

27 March 2024 China+ Monitor FDI into China has weathered the storm, but the waters are still choppy

  • China’s foreign direct investment seems to have passed its lowest point, hit in late 2023.
  • Top policymakers are rolling out the red carpet to tempt foreign CEOs back to China, as it recovers.
  • But geopolitical tensions will limit the foreign investment rebound, especially in high-tech sectors.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

22 March 2024 China+ Monitor Japan's sunny service sector clouded by insipid manufacturing activity

  • Japan’s March flash manufacturing PMI points to still-tepid activity, though improving modestly.
  • The service sector continues to shine brightly, albeit based narrowly on tourism and finance.
  • A jump in service-sector input costs is a worrying sign of persistently elevated inflation.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

20 March 2024 China+ Monitor BoJ marches towards normalisation, scrapping negative rates and YCC

  • The BoJ raised interest rates for the first time in 17 years, while ending YCC and risky asset purchases.
  • At the press conference, Governor Ueda’s rhetoric on the future path of the policy rate was neutral.
  • Japan’s monetary policy should stay accommodative unless significant inflationary pressures mount.

Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+

19 March 2024 China+ Monitor China's China's industrial sector strength contrasting with tepid consumption

  • China’s lopsided recovery continued in January and February, led by a galloping industrial sector...
  • ...Demand is likely mainly coming from exports and fixed asset investment, with consumption still tepid.
  • Further price cuts should drive car sales, while new-property developer woes continue.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

14 March 2024 China+ Monitor BoJ likely to hold off normalising rates until April

  • BoJ Governor Ueda gave mixed signals at his legislature appearance on Tuesday.
  • Japan’s January household spending data were broadly weak, but the incoming wage data are key...
  • ...The BoJ is likely to keep rates on hold next week, waiting for more data, leaving the rate hike until April.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

12 March 2024 China+ Monitor China's CPI bounces; upstream industries still see deflationary pressure

  • China’s CPI rebounded due to the timing of Lunar New Year and stronger demand in food and services.
  • By contrast, PPI slid further as deflationary pressure on upstream industries persists.
  • We expect headline CPI disinflation to resume, and China continues to export deflation to rest of world.

Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+

8 March 2024 China+ Monitor China exports more to emerging markets in January and February

  • China’s export growth increased in January-to-February, partly due to the low base from last year.
  • Exports to emerging markets have risen noticeably, while shipments to ASEAN were flat.
  • New measures are being proposed at the NPC to prop up domestic demand and the property market.

Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+

6 March 2024 China+ Monitor China's PMIs suggest weak labour market undermines domestic demand

  • The February services PMIs were both respectable, albeit still below long-term averages...
  • ...But weak employment indices highlight the fragility of domestic demand.
  • Premier Li yesterday indicated a steady course, with no big stimulus, and outlined targeted measures.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

5 March 2024 China+ Monitor Korean working-day-adjusted export growth vigorous, due to chip upturn

  • Underlying growth in Korean exports was stronger in February, adjusted for working-day differences.
  • Surging demand for semiconductors drove exports higher, thanks to a sustained ICT upturn.
  • The BoK will start lowering rates only in Q3, owing to inflationary pressure and household-debt risks.

Kelvin Lam (Senior China+ Economist)China+

1 March 2024 China+ Monitor Premier Li likely to announce only targeted support for consumption

  • Premier Li is likely to announce targeted support for auto and home appliance consumption at the NPC...
  • ...But this should be incremental demand support, rather than a big stimulus.
  • China’s recovery will probably remain lacklustre but gradually gain traction in 2024.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

28 February 2024 China+ Monitor Japan's CPI falls less than expected due largely to data anomalies

  • Japan’s national prices rise at the slowest rate since Q1 2021, thanks to softer food and energy prices.
  • The surge in overseas package-holiday inflation has distorted the outturn away from the consensus.
  • BoJ will be more confident to normalise rates but, given Fed’s delayed move, policy will tighten by June.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

23 February 2024 China+ Monitor Japan's flash PMIs point to sagging economic activity

  • The two Japanese flash PMIs point to a flagging recovery, despite long-term optimism.
  • A drop in service sector new export orders is a warning sign for the tourism sector.
  • January national CPI, due Monday, will likely be sub- 2%, adding to the case for the BoJ to delay a rate rise.

Duncan WrigleyChina+

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