Asia

China inflation slows in July, below forecast

China's consumer price index eased to 0.5% year-on-year in July, coming in below analysts' forecasts. The figure points to weaker-than-expected domestic demand in the world's second-largest economy.

Shanghai financial district skyline
Shanghai financial district skylinePhoto: yu wang / Pexels
Straits Times Business1 h ago

China's consumer price index rose 0.5% year-on-year in July, coming in below what markets had expected. The data suggests demand-side weakness continues to weigh on the country's economy.

Analysts say the soft inflation reading reflects slowing consumer spending and ongoing troubles in the property sector. Some economists believe the figures could push Beijing toward additional stimulus measures in the coming months.

Whether China's central bank will shift toward a looser monetary policy stance is being closely watched. Experts warn that persistently low inflation could deepen deflationary pressures if it continues for an extended period.

InflationCentral BanksAsiaStraits Times Business
This article is an AI-curated summary of the original story published by Straits Times Business. The illustration is a stock photo by yu wang from Pexels and is not from the original story.

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