China Consumer Confidence Rebounds in July

The Chinese spent more in July as inflationary pressures eased on falling food prices, according to the Bankcard Consumer Confidence Index (BCCI), compiled by Xinhua News Agency, and China UnionPay.

The national bankcard association index rose to 86.41 in July, up by 0.11 points from June, after falling for three months in a row. Compared with the same period last year, the July BCCI figure was 0.49 points higher. The index hit a record high of 86.89 in March.

The rebound in the index was largely due to easing of inflationary expectations and a relatively robust economic performance, the report said.

China’s consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, rose to a 19-month high in May. It then fell 0.2% to 2.9% in June. Analysts said CPI would drop further in the second half of the current fiscal year amid the economic slowdown, which helped soothe consumers’ worries over rising commodity prices.

The report said the government’s curbs on soaring property prices and construction of affordable housing projects also contributed to the consumers’ growing readiness to spend.

BEIJING Xinhua