China’s Economic Engine Sputters as Investments Plummet to Historic Lows

Beijing's growth miracle hits a wall—capital flight goes brrr.

### The Great Slowdown

Factories idle, cranes gather dust. The 'world's workshop' just got a reality check.

### Numbers Don't Lie

Record investment drops scream louder than politburo press releases. Even state media can't spin this one.

### Wall Street's Cynical Take

‘But have you seen their blockchain adoption rates?’ — some hedge fund manager probably, while shorting yuan futures.

In brief

• China is experiencing a triple slowdown: consumption, investments, and production decline despite stimulus plans.
• Beijing is initiating a transition towards a domestic economy, but execution remains unclear and uncertain.

The latest published numbers confirm a tense Chinese economy

In China, all indicators suggest a cautious, almost frozen economy. Thedecided by Beijing is not enough to restore confidence.

Fixed asset investment fell by 1.7% over ten months. This is the worst score since the COVID crisis according to the data. Considered to be, the real estate sector is dragging everything down. With stalled construction sites and indebted developers, construction no longer plays its role as a shock absorber.

Industrial production is also slowing: +4.9% in October, down from +6.5% the previous month. Retail sales, a consumption barometer, remain stagnant at +2.9%. They continue their. Despite autumn festivals and an extra holiday, even the automotive sector is shrinking.

Beijing between two models, households at the center of the game

Since Donald Trump’s return to the WHITE House, thehas resurfaced. For Beijing, this sounds like a warning: the export model is reaching its limits. Result: the Communist Party is preparing a strategic shift. Goal: significantly increase the share of household consumption in GDP.

But between political will and practical application, a gap persists. The state apparatus continues to favor large public groups and infrastructure at the expense of private producers and households. The transition therefore remains theoretical, hindered by high local debt and declining industrial profitability.

China’s economy is now seeking a second wind. Beijing. Without profound adjustments, however, this target will remain difficult to achieve.

The model change desired by Xi Jinping therefore requires more than a five-year plan. It demands a complete overhaul of economic, social, and fiscal balances. China will soon have to decide to save its economy: invest in its households or endure a lasting slowdown.

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