China released mixed economic data for August, with retail sales, industrial output, and fixed-asset investment all missing analyst expectations. Retail sales grew 3.4% year-over-year, below the 3.9% forecast, while industrial production rose 5.2%, down from 5.7% the prior month. Real estate investment contracted 12.9% over the first eight months of the year, continuing a multi-year downturn. One bright spot: exports surged 25% year-over-year, demonstrating the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturers in global markets. Beijing’s 5% GDP growth target for 2026 looks increasingly ambitious.
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