Consumption increases, investment improves, prices remain stable. In May, economic data showed three major characteristics
The growth rate of total retail sales of consumer goods has accelerated, the investment momentum in high-end manufacturing is good, and household consumption is steadily increasing... Recently, the economic data for May was released, and consumption, investment, and price indicators have received attention. On June 17th, the National Development and Reform Commission held a press conference to respond to these hot issues.
With the gradual implementation of a series of policies and measures to promote consumption, the continuous adjustment of investment structure, and the monitoring and tracking of prices, China's economy is showing a development trend of rising consumption, excellent investment, and stable prices. Each data point highlights the surging vitality and strong momentum of China's economic growth, and the long-term positive trend of the Chinese economy has not changed.
Recently, the economic data for May was released to the public, and many of the data showed new changes, attracting attention from all parties. On June 17th, the National Development and Reform Commission held a press conference to analyze and interpret the current economic operation.
Why did the growth rate of total retail sales of consumer goods accelerate in May?
A series of policy measures to promote consumption are gradually being implemented and taking effect
In May, driven by multiple factors such as the increase in holidays during the May Day holiday, holiday movements, and the rebound in growth rates of some key commodities, the overall consumer goods market showed a stable but upward trend. Among them, the total retail sales of consumer goods in May increased by 8.6% year-on-year, with a growth rate 1.4 percentage points faster than the previous month; Among the 18 categories of products in units above the quota, the growth rate of 13 categories of products has rebounded compared to last month.
Since last year, in accordance with the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, relevant departments and localities have launched a series of policy measures to promote consumption. The data in May proves from one level that these policy measures are gradually being implemented and effective, "said Meng Wei, spokesperson for the National Development and Reform Commission.
In the May consumption data, the demand for cultural tourism consumption market is very strong. According to comprehensive calculations by the China Tourism Research Institute, the total number of domestic tourists received during this year's May Day holiday exceeded 190 million, an increase of 13.7% on a comparable basis; Realize tourism revenue exceeding 110 billion yuan, with a comparable growth rate of 16.1%.
How to consolidate the rapid growth of cultural tourism consumption and further tap into consumption potential?
让大众能消费，就要丰富市场供给。孟玮说，下一步将加快实施文化旅游的提升工程和“三区三州”等深度贫困地区旅游的基础设施改造建设方案，加大中央预算内投资对这些公共文化服务设施、国家文化和自然遗产保护利用设施，以及旅游基础设施的支持力度。
让大众愿消费，还得推进重点建设。孟玮透露，国家将重点促进大运河沿线文化旅游的融合提升，积极推进海南国际旅游消费中心、横琴国际休闲旅游岛以及平潭国际旅游岛等重点旅游区建设，打造一批知名度高、吸纳能力强、游客满意的旅游目的地。
让大众放心消费，健全文化旅游消费的信用服务体系迫在眉睫。“重点要对一些演出市场违法违规行为，以及一些不合理的低价游行为开展持续整治，对存在严重失信行为的企业和从业人员进行联合惩戒，从而确保消费者的合法权益能够得到保障。”她说。
近期，《推动重点消费品更新升级 畅通资源循环利用实施方案（2019—2020年）》公布，重点围绕“推动产业产品提升，优化消费环境，打通回收利用环节”等方面，聚焦汽车、家电、消费电子产品领域，进一步增强市场消费活力，提升消费支撑能力，促进形成强大国内市场。
她表示，为了优化消费环境，下一步发改委将主要推动两大工作：一是指导地方破除限制消费的体制机制障碍，包括严禁各地出台新的汽车限购规定，已实施汽车限购的地方政府应根据城市交通拥堵、污染治理、交通需求管控效果，加快由限制购买转向引导使用；二是健全居民消费的软硬件基础设施，让消费者能够方便消费和放心消费。
前5月制造业投资增速缘何小幅回升？
“高技术制造业投资以及技术改造投资成为拉动制造业投资增长的重要动力”
尽管前5月全国固定资产投资同比增速比1—4月回落0.5个百分点，但是，投资结构持续优化的势头明显。特别是前5月制造业投资同比增长2.7%，增速比1—4月提高0.2个百分点。
制造业投资增速缘何出现小幅回升？
“高端制造业的投资发展势头良好，高技术制造业投资以及技术改造投资正在成为拉动制造业投资增长的重要动力。”孟玮说，1—5月，高技术制造业投资同比增长了10.2%，增速高于全部制造业投资7.5个百分点。制造业技改投资同比增长了15%，增速高于全部制造业投资12.3个百分点。
与往年比较，制造业投资增速总体来说也有走弱的问题。她分析，这受到多方面的因素影响。从投资模式看，在新发展业态和新组织模式下，企业更加偏好小批次、个性化和强研发，效率提升后，不再简单追求投资的强度；从投资结构看，制造业中农副食品加工、有色和金属制品、运输设备以及汽车等行业投资增速回落比较明显；从投资质量看，制造业新旧动能转换本身就需要一个过程。
“制造业是我国国民经济的支柱，也是产业链条中创造价值、吸纳就业和带动生产性服务业等其他行业发展的一个关键环节。我们将聚焦关键领域和薄弱环节，推动制造业的持续健康发展。”她说，下一步将落实好财税和金融政策。切实将降低增值税税率和工业电价的政策惠及制造业企业，落实社会保险费率的降低政策。同时，坚决破除各种不合理的门槛和限制，在市场准入、审批许可、招标投标等方面要打造公平竞争的环境，进一步深化投资领域“放管服”改革，推进投资项目承诺制改革。
物价涨幅会持续走高吗？
“5月核心CPI同比上涨1.6%，是2017年以来最小涨幅”
价格问题关系千家万户。5月，全国居民消费价格（CPI）同比上涨2.7%，涨幅比4月扩大0.2个百分点，其中水果、猪肉等价格上涨较快。有媒体担忧，物价会否面临进一步上涨的风险？未来还将推出哪些措施来稳定物价？
孟玮表示，从年初以来，猪肉价格实际上是经历了一个从下跌到上涨、进而平稳的发展过程。“当前，生猪和猪肉的价格都和2015年以来的平均水平基本相当，可以说猪肉的价格目前是保持稳定的。”
她分析，水果价格上涨主要与此前异常天气等因素有关，涨势不可持续。随着时令水果大量上市，价格将较快地回落到正常的区间。
“从价格水平看，5月份，剔除食品和能源价格影响，核心CPI同比上涨1.6%，是2017年以来最小涨幅。”孟玮表示，“总的来看，我国工农业产品和服务供给总体充足，居民消费稳定增长，价格总水平保持基本稳定是具备良好基础的。”
她表示，发改委将继续加强价格监测，密切跟踪物价走势，会根据形势的变化会同有关部门采取必要的调控措施。“我们尤其关注物价上涨对困难群众基本生活的影响，将指导各级地方认真执行好社会救助和保障标准与物价上涨挂钩的联动机制，一旦达到了机制的启动条件，我们就会立即启动该机制，及时向这些困难群体发放价格临时补贴，保障好困难群众的基本生活。”
Information source: Chinese government website
He Yang/Organizing
