China’s macroeconomic activity indicators have deteriorated sharply in recent months, following a strong rebound earlier this year after Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were abandoned. Renewed deep falls in property starts and sales have led the downturn, but retail sales and consumer confidence have also weakened, as highlighted in the latest edition of Fitch Ratings’ ‘20/20 Vision’ chart pack. The chart pack also highlights broad-based declines in headline CPI inflation rates across many major economies, even though core inflation remains stubbornly high. US CPI headline inflation fell to 3.0% yoy in June 2023 and ... (full story)