china beige book

The fledgling recovery is built on growing domestic Chinese demand, while the critical export sector is the biggest laggard due to weak foreign demand stemming from the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Data for the first quarter of 2020 gathered by CBB, a research service that uses data from over 3,300 firms to track the performance of China’s economy across key sectors, industries, and regions, is in uncharted territory.

If the Chinese authorities want a vibrant, healthy economy for the 70th anniversary on Oct. 1 of the People’s Republic of China, they’re not getting it.

The first-quarter high for the Chinese economy—fuelled by borrowing—has worn thin into the second quarter.

Comparing China in the long run to Japan is apt regarding the proliferation of a zombie economy, says Shehzad Qazi, managing director of CBB International.

Just about every economic measure is trending down in China, and not surprisingly, deflation fears are mounting.

China’s manufacturing and export sectors are getting clobbered by U.S. tariffs

It’s easier to get rid of them this way.

CBB goes to the source and talks to thousands of companies on the ground

It’s not time to party yet, but certainly not time to panic either

Find out what real companies say about their performance and what’s different from official data releases

For the first time in decades the Chinese economy is slowing down. Whether it is official data, bank research data, or commodity prices, all point to a slowdown.