China’s Economy Seeing Stable Growth in 2016
Recent figures have shown that the Chinese economy has generally seen stable growth with deepening supply-side structural reforms, an official from the National Bureau of Statistics said Monday.
Meanwhile, measures have been taken to expand total demand in the 1st 4 months of this year, contributing to economic indicators within expectations, Guo Tongxin said.
1st, the consumption and the services sector have served as the main engine for economic growth, said Guo.
“The April data is further evidence that the national economy since the start of this year has grown mainly on domestic demand led by consumption, and that industrial growth is mainly supported by the services sector,” Guo said.
That is a positive development of structural adjustments to the economy and industrial upgrading, he said, highlighting progress in such sectors as IT, environment, housing, tourism, culture, health and sports.
Final consumption has contributed 84.7% to economic growth in Q-1 of this year, up 22% from the same frame last year, he said.
The value added of the services sector expanded 7.6% in Q-1, 1.8% faster than the secondary sector, accounting for 56.9% of GDP (gross domestic product), or 19.4% higher than the secondary sector. Its contribution to economic growth reached 63.5%, 29.3% higher than the secondary sector, according to the expert.
2nd, streamlining government administration and the recent introduction of a VAT (value-added tax) has stimulated market vitality, contributing to early signs of positive results from supply-side structural reforms, Guo said.
Newly registered firms exceeded 1.57-M from January to April, up 27.5% from the same frame last year, with about 80% of them in the services sector.
In addition, tax reductions since last year has lessened the tax burden on Chinese firms by more than RMB 400-B, while the introduction of the VAT on 1 May is expected to cut another RMB 500-B in tax this year.
Innovation is also playing a key role in China’s new economy. New patent licensing has grown another 63% in the 1st 4 months of this year, following a 61.9% growth in Y 2015. Online retail sales have grown 25.6%, 15.3% faster than that of total retail sales of consumer goods.
On macroeconomic policies, Guo said the stability of macroeconomic policies despite downward pressure on the economy has ensured economic growth within a reasonable range. Higher fiscal expenditure coupled with tax reduction shows a more proactive fiscal policy, with government investment flowing more to public services and products, resources and environmental protection and new industries, he said.
Monetary policies have been moderate with M2 growth cooling in April, he added, noting that in general, the growth of total money and credit supply and total social financing remains stable and normal.
Meanwhile, unemployment remains generally stable, the expert said.
Although unemployment has risen in some regions due to the economic slowdown and a reduction in excess capacity, the growth of the services sector and entrepreneurship has kept the unemployment rate stable, he said.
Rural-to-Urban migrant workers reached nearly 168-M, up 2.9% from the same frame last year, while the registered unemployment rate saw a slight decline at 4.04% by March, he said.
Finally, Guo said the 13th Five-Year Plan approved in March has played an important role in stabilizing and lifting market expectations.
The Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) has entered an expansionary period in March and April for the 1st time since August, while the Producer Price Index (PPI) saw the 1st rise in years in March, a strong indicator of rising market confidence by firm managers.
The expert cautioned that downward pressure would persist for the Chinese economy, given that the rise of the new economy cannot yet cover the decline in traditional sectors.
He suggested focusing on fixing structural supply-side problems in the economy, rather than seek short-term gains and losses.
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