China's GDP expands 6.9 pct in first half of 2017 -- China's gross domestic product expanded 6.9 percent year on year in the first half of the year to about 38.15 trillion yuan (5.62 trillion U.S. dollars), data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on July 17. The growth rate is well above the government's target for the year of 6.5 percent, reflecting a firming trend in the nation's economy. In the second quarter, China's GDP held steady, posting a rise of 6.9 percent year on year, flat from the first quarter.
China's fixed-asset investment eases H1 -- China's fixed-asset investment (FAI) grew 8.6 percent year on year in the first six months, down 0.6 percentage points from the first quarter, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Total investment from January to June stood at 28.06 trillion yuan (4.15 trillion U.S. dollars), according to a statement of the NBS.
China's property development investment continues slower growth -- Investment in China’s property development expanded 8.5 percent year on year for January-June, down from 8.8 percent during the first five months, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Housing sales measured by floor area rose 16.1 percent for the first half, with growth up from 14.3 percent for January-May.
China's per capita disposable income up 8.8 pct in H1 -- China's average per capita disposable income grew 8.8 percent year on year to 12,932 yuan (about 1,913 U.S. dollars) in the first half of the year, data showed on July 17. Deducting inflation, the growth was 7.3 percent, exceeding the country's GDP growth of 6.9 percent for January-June, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
China's retail sales pick up in H1 -- China's retail sales of consumer goods grew 10.4 percent year on year in the first half of the year to 17.24 trillion yuan (2.55 trillion U.S. dollars), official data showed on July 17. The pace was slightly faster than the 10 percent for the first quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said. In June, retail sales expanded by 11 percent year on year, the fastest growth since December 2015.
Tibet airports handle over 2 mln passengers in H1 -- Airports in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region handled a record high of 2.07 million passengers in the first half of 2017, the regional civil aviation authority said on July 19. The passenger flow was 11.8 percent higher than the same period last year. A total of 19,600 flights took off or landed at Tibet's airports from January to June this year, up 5.2 percent year on year. Cargo throughput also rose 26.2 percent to 15,900 tonnes on a yearly basis during the same period, the authority said.
Chinese visitors rank first on spending in Singapore again -- Chinese visitors spent an estimated 3.52 billion Singapore dollars (2.58 billion U.S. dollars) in Singapore last year, increasing 39 percent or 1 billion Singapore dollars (732 million dollars) from 2015, the Straits Times reported on July 19. This was the second year in a row for China to be Singapore's top-spending market, beating Indonesia, which has traditionally been the top spender. Statistics from the Singapore Tourism Board show 2.86 million Chinese visitors arrived in Singapore last year, up 36 percent year on year.
China remains most important source of tourists for Thailand in H1, 2017 -- China remains the most important source of tourists for Thailand in the first half of this year, according to a report recently published by Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The number of foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand during the first half of this year was about 17.33 million and they contributed 137 billion baht of tourism income, representing an increase of 6 percent year on year. The Chinese visitors contributed over 8.7 million of tourist arrivals to Thailand last year, accounting for about 30 percent of foreign tourist arrivals.
China's clean energy generation accelerates in first half -- More electricity has been generated from clean energy sources in China in the first half of this year, a senior official said on July 18. The amount of electricity generated from clean energy sources increased by 5.15 percent year on year, equivalent to a 22-million-tonne reduction in thermal coal consumption, said Yan Pengcheng, spokesperson with the National Development and Reform Commission. Clean energy has accounted for 27.2 percent of the country's total power output in the first six months, up 1.8 percentage points from the same period last year, Yan told a press conference.
China's benchmark power coal price rises for sixth week -- China's benchmark power coal price edged up on July 19, marking a rise for the sixth straight week, as increased summer power use drove up demand for coal. The Bohai-Rim Steam-Coal Price Index, a gauge of coal prices in northern China's major ports published weekly, grew 0.17 percent from a week ago to 582 yuan (more than 85 U.S. dollars) per tonne, according to Qinhuangdao Ocean Shipping Coal Trading Market Co. Ltd. The coal price has been on a periodic upward trajectory since mid-June as lingering heat waves boosted coal consumption in thermal power plants, and reduced production capacity to some extent led to the shortage in supply.
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