02:13
Over one-fifth of China’s total GDP under lockdown amid record Covid surge, new report finds
China to dispatch economic inspectors to ensure Beijing’s policies are ‘fully implemented’, as warnings mount
- Premier Li Keqiang stresses importance of an economically strong fourth quarter to help get China’s full-year growth back to a ‘reasonable range’
- But with no mention at State Council meeting of the worsening outbreak situation, analysts continue to ask how economic growth can be achieved amid widespread lockdowns and mobility restrictions
The State Council will dispatch inspection teams before the end of November to enhance the local-level implementations of economic-stabilisation policies, given that the fourth quarter is “key to economic recovery” and “very important” for the full-year growth, outgoing Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday at the weekly executive meeting of China’s cabinet.
The decision comes at a time when the world’s second-largest economy is facing a new round of virus disruptions – daily infections have already jumped to more than 31,000 across the country – and these hurdles could impede its recovery path.
“Some measures haven’t been fully implemented, given the different situations of regions. We must continue to push for local enforcement,” Li said, expressing hope for bringing economic growth back to a “reasonable range”.
“We must try to deliver a good outcome,” he said.
Ending zero-Covid policy will not put a quick end to China’s pain, economists warn
Li, who will end his 10-year tenure as premier in March, insisted that a previously released stabilisation package is taking effect and has big potential.
Chang Huili, a macro analyst with Huatai Securities, said the authorities may soon cut the ratio by 25 or 50 basis points, releasing 550 billion yuan or 1.1 trillion yuan worth of liquidity.
“It’s more of an intention for loosening, rather than having a significant boost,” she said. “The economic rebound will largely rely on the abating of Covid disruptions and the property cycle.”
01:42
China’s first Covid deaths in 6 months tests its coronavirus policy easing
As Wednesday’s cabinet meeting did not mention the outbreak situation – one of key factors haunting the national economy – many analysts raised the big question of how policymakers can deliver growth when some economically important cities, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing and Zhengzhou, are dealing with a variety of lockdown and mobility restrictions.
Sheana Yue, a China economist at Capital Economics, said high-frequency data and proxy indicators – such as traffic volume, electricity consumption and car sales – suggest that containment efforts nationwide continue to weigh heavily on services activities. And she warned that the economic impact that could potentially be as big as Shanghai’s six months ago.
“Recent policy support won’t stem the housing downturn, global demand is set to cool further, and weak credit demand is constraining the [People’s Bank of China]’s ability to provide policy support,” she said.
The amount of floor space sold from January-October fell by 22.3 per cent from a year earlier, compared with 22.2 per cent in the first nine months, according to government data.
And property investment dropped by 8.8 per cent in the first 10 months, down from a fall of 8 per cent in January-September.
“The current economic weakness will extend for several more months,” Yue added.
Has a middle-income trap been set for China? Adviser warns of GDP growth risks
The Washington-based organisation, which expects China’s gross domestic product to grow by 4.4 per cent in 2023 on a gradual reopening in the year’s second half, called for a recalibration of Beijing’s virus-control policy and also proposed interest rate cuts and fiscal support for vulnerable households to boost the economy.
“The zero-Covid policy is having a significant impact on business confidence and consumption trends,” said Andrew Fennell, head of Fitch Ratings’ Greater China sovereigns division.
“Many elements of this policy will remain into 2023.”
