Markets

Breakdown of the latest developments on the global exchanges
Mar 15, 2021, 1:26 PM GMT
#Economy

Consumption in China Skyrockets in the First Quarter

China's President Xi Jinping. Chinese retail sales jump considerably over the last quarter

Chinese retail sales grew markedly over the last quarter, owing to a massive upsurge in consumer demand. This represents a solid indication of the robust recovery that is currently being observed in the world's biggest economy.

Earlier today, the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBSC) published its latest retail sales economic survey. According to the findings of the report, sales grew 35.1 per cent over the last two months. The recorded performance outstripped the preliminary forecasts, which were anticipating growth of 31.2 per cent.

China's retail sales grew by 33.8 per cent in the last quarter from December's 4.6 per cent

This performance elucidates a stark improvement from December's 4.6 per cent growth and a complete recuperation from the 15.8 per cent slump that was recorded in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

China's higher consumption underscores growing demand in Asia, which is welcoming news for emerging markets in the region. The global recovery continues to be dependent on healthy aggregate demand, especially in China and the US. The latter is also due to report its retail numbers later this week.

China's remarkable pace of economic recovery is felt strongly in the currency markets. The yuan has been advancing steadily against the dollar over the past three quarters, and even the recent recuperation of the greenback may not be strong enough to offset this trend.

As can be seen on the weekly chart below, the USDCNY is currently consolidating above the major support level at 6.4700, while the price action continues to find itself in a strong downtrend.

This support level's significance stems from the fact that it had previously served as an upper boundary for the last Accumulation range, which is the primary reason why dollar bulls will be hoping for at least a temporary respite in the downtrend around the current area.

Such a bullish correction could extend to the area in green just below the major resistance level at 6.7000 before it gets challenged by the bears. This is substantiated by the fact that this resistance level is about to be crossed by the three moving averages, which serve the roles of floating resistances themselves.

Meanwhile, the longer-term sentiment continues to be tilted to the downside. The USDCNY looks poised to test the lower boundary of the Accumulation at 6.2650 eventually.

USDCNY continues to develop a downtrend, as per the Wyckoff cycle. The price action is currently consolidating above the major support at 6.4700