China fixed-asset investment shrinks 7.2% in first eight months of 2026
China's fixed-asset investment fell 7.2% year-on-year in the first eight months of 2026, deepening from a 6.7% drop in January-July, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Industrial output rose 5.2% in August but retail sales grew only 0.4% and new bank loans came in at 60 billion yuan, well below expectations. The property downturn continued with new home prices down 0.1% month-on-month in August.