Economy /

Economic Indicators

Related Topics:
US-China trade war
US-ally trade wars
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
China stock market
World Economic Forum
Trucks move past piles of containers stacked at a container terminal port on the Yangtze River in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality on April 20. Photo: AP
US-China trade war

First blood? Trump’s trade war starts to bite as China’s cargo shipments slump

US tariffs are beginning to take a toll – but some analysts believe Beijing could still achieve 5 per cent GDP target.

videocam
48
China manufacturing

China’s factory activity contracts as tariffs darken trade landscape

China GDP

Shenzhen lags China in GDP, exports as tech hub preps for tariff wave

China's population

More Chinese leave the knot untied as marriage registrations drop

Marriages saw a year-on-year fall of 8 per cent in China for the first quarter of 2025 – a worrying sign as demographic decline continues.

Marriage registrations in China continued to drop in 2025, a worrying sign as the country attempts to combat demographic decline. Photo: AFP
Marriage registrations in China continued to drop in 2025, a worrying sign as the country attempts to combat demographic decline. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese carmakers put brakes on self-driving hype at Shanghai show

‘Safety’ is the big buzzword as firms adjust tone amid Beijing’s closer scrutiny after a fatal crash involving a driver-assistance system.

4
Banking & finance

China’s wealthy are hoarding cash amid an uncertain economy, survey finds

Chinese high-net-worth investors are wary of taking risks during a period of intense turbulence.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
US-China trade war

China’s critical metal exports plummet as trade war curbs take effect

Shipments of several critical minerals have halted entirely, putting the US tech sector under pressure.

16
Workers transport soil containing rare earths for export at a port in eastern China’s Jiangsu province. China holds a dominant position in the global supply chain for rare earth minerals. Photo: Reuters
Workers transport soil containing rare earths for export at a port in eastern China’s Jiangsu province. China holds a dominant position in the global supply chain for rare earth minerals. Photo: Reuters
China trade

China’s container bookings to plunge up to 60% as US tariffs wipe out trade

But shipping traffic in the rest of Asia is bouncing back as traders rush to take advantage of US ‘reciprocal’ tariff pause.

videocam
52
China GDP

China’s economy grows 5.4% in first quarter ahead of full-blown US trade war

The country’s GDP growth beat expectations to March, but worries persist about the looming impact of the US trade conflict.

videocam
18
China GDP

‘Open door red’ to ‘summer blue’: will second quarter slam China’s GDP again?

Recent years have seen China’s economic growth decelerate in the second quarter – a pattern that threatens to continue this summer amid an intensifying trade war.

videocam
11
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
China exports

‘Final hurrah’: China’s exports up 12.4% in March amid pre-tariff rush

Trade figures reflect resilience of export machine and rapid reorientation of shipments as uncertainty swirls over eventual scope and impact of tariffs.

videocam
China’s exports remained resilient in March despite new tariffs from US President Donald Trump. Photo: Xinhua
China’s exports remained resilient in March despite new tariffs from US President Donald Trump. Photo: Xinhua
China inflation

China’s consumer prices fall in March as trade war reaches fever pitch

China’s consumer prices declined 0.1 per cent at a decisive moment in protracted trade conflict with US.

videocam
11
China’s economic stimulus

‘I’m not attracted’: why China is struggling to convince consumers to borrow

Beijing is offering easier access to credit in a bid to boost consumption, but households are reluctant to take on debt amid a global trade war.

15
China's economic recovery

Fitch cuts China rating on weakening finances, debt concerns

China’s Ministry of Finance reacted strongly, describing the decision to downgrade from “A+” to “A” as biased and not reflective of reality.

7
The Fitch Ratings Inc. logo is seen at its headquarters in New York’s financial district on March 18. Photo: AFP
Yuan

China battles to stabilise yuan after Trump’s tariffs spark market upheaval

China’s central bank set the currency’s fixing rate at its lowest level since January, as regulators warned of market volatility.

videocam
US President Donald Trump announces new reciprocal tariffs against America’s main trading partners in Washington on Wednesday. The move has put downward pressure on the yuan and sent gold prices soaring to record highs. Photo: AFP
US President Donald Trump announces new reciprocal tariffs against America’s main trading partners in Washington on Wednesday. The move has put downward pressure on the yuan and sent gold prices soaring to record highs. Photo: AFP
Made in China 2025

Stay humble? China ranks itself 10th in new global innovation league table

But China has risen up the rankings faster than any other nation over the past 12 years, according to the report.

videocam
21
China manufacturing

China’s factory activity speeds up on export boost, Caixin PMI shows

But China’s macroeconomic policies must be ‘more proactive and decisive’, with immediate implementations, to support a recovery, economist says.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
China's economic recovery

China’s factory activity accelerates in March even as US ramps up tariffs

China’s manufacturing activity hit a 12-month high as Beijing introduced a slew of measures to boost the economy.

China’s factory activity remained resilient in March despite US moves to raise tariffs on Chinese imports. Photo: Xinhua
China’s factory activity remained resilient in March despite US moves to raise tariffs on Chinese imports. Photo: Xinhua
China's economic recovery

China’s industrial profits unexpectedly fall in ominous sign for economy

Economists had predicted China’s industrial firms would record robust profit growth in the first two months of the year.

China GDP

What tariffs? Another China GDP forecast rises on fast start, capital outlays

Morgan Stanley joins others in growing more bullish on China’s economy for the year, but US tariffs seen biting amid ‘supply-chain rewiring’.

videocam
6
US-China trade war

China’s Silicon Valley sees exports slump over 16% as trade war fears rise

Analysts are divided over the causes of the sharp slowdown in Shenzhen, one of China’s most important trade hubs.

videocam
Shenzhen is one of China’s largest cities and a key tech and trading hub. Photo: Getty Images
Robotics

China reveals economic data on service robots for the first time

Service robots outperformed industrial robots in both growth and output in January and February, according to the statistics bureau.

A senior resident at a nursing home in Shenzhen interacts with Xia Lan, a humanoid robot. Photo: Xinhua
A senior resident at a nursing home in Shenzhen interacts with Xia Lan, a humanoid robot. Photo: Xinhua
China’s economic stimulus

China’s new plan to boost consumption is ‘most comprehensive’ since 1970s

The 30-point strategy to drive up consumer spending tackles a slew of underlying issues, from low wages to the real estate crisis.

videocam
13
China consumption

China’s retail sales rise as consumption takes centre stage amid tariff blitz

January and February saw a 4 per cent increase in retail sales, stirring hopes domestic consumption can make up for a shortfall in exports.

videocam
8
China's population

China’s workers flock to Shenzhen and Hangzhou as talent war heats up

The two tech hubs saw their populations swell in 2024, defying China’s broader demographic decline.

7
China’s workers continue to flock to prosperous cities on the country’s southern and eastern coast in search of a better quality of life. Photo: Xinhua
China Future Tech
HIGHLIGHTS FROM
China Future Tech

Big Tech

Elon Musk teases Grok 3.5 hours after Alibaba’s Qwen3 generates buzz

videocam
Elon Musk said the latest version of xAI’s Grok model can answer technical questions about rocket engines and electrochemistry. Photo: Reuters

Business

Meitu founder buys Hong Kong’s Ginza-style building for US$84 million

Mike Cai Wensheng of Meitu. Photo: Felix Wong

Tech Trends

Why car park operator Shoucheng is doubling down on China robotics investment

Shoucheng Holdings presents humanoid robots from some of its investee firms, including Unitree Robotics and Galaxea AI, at an event in Hong Kong on April 30, 2025. Photo: Handout

Business

Shanghai start-up United InnoMed plans studies to develop heart-failure treatment device

videocam
Employees produce ventilators at Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics, a medical device manufacturer based in Shenzhen. Photo: Xinhua

Big Tech

Ant Group showcases its top AI researchers in bid to woo talent in tight market

The Ant Group logo is seen on its building in Hangzhou. Photo: Shutterstock Images
MORE IN China Future Tech
OPINION
Nicholas Spiro

Macroscope | Is the ‘Trump shock’ the end of dollar hegemony?

Nicholas Spiro
Richard Harris

Opinion | As markets recover from Trump tariff shock, how long will new normal last?

Richard Harris
Gu Bin

Opinion | How China is turning Trump’s tariffs into an opportunity

Gu Bin
Zheng Zeguang

Opinion | In the face of trade bullying, appeasement is not an option

Zheng Zeguang
Anthony Rowley

Macroscope | A world economy on the brink could use some win-win cooperation

Anthony Rowley
Ronny Tong

Opinion | How hard will Trump’s tariffs hit Hong Kong?

Ronny Tong
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW