What is the true value and innovative content of the 4.7% growth rate achieved in the first half of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period? For an economy of China's massive scale, it is crucial to look beyond the sheer volume of growth and assess the effectiveness of its transformation and the quality of its development. Five sets of data and insights help outline the highlights of China's economic performance in the first half of the year.
Insight One: Experience Enhancement and Consumption Upgrading
Boosting consumption and expanding domestic demand are central to China's economic strategy. In June, the National Bureau of Statistics introduced a new indicator: total retail sales of consumer goods and services. In the first half, this total grew by 2.7% year-on-year, with service retail sales leading the consumer market at 5.3%, while goods retail sales grew by 1.1%. Looking at your spending from the past six months, have you noticed a change in how your money is being used? While the 2026 World Cup is generating excitement, local city football leagues are also gaining immense popularity. In Northeast China, a 19.9-yuan match ticket can double as a "Chuang Guandong Cultural Tourism Passport," offering benefits like free admission to the Shenyang Imperial Palace and exclusive discounts on dining and accommodation. Beyond sports, trends like movie-inspired travel, concerts revitalizing commercial districts, and shopping trips turning into exhibition visits or micro-excursions are becoming common. Consumers are no longer just paying for products but for the quality of service, the atmosphere, and the potential for great photos—all key factors in purchasing decisions. The shift from "availability" to "quality"—experience enhancement—is the most prominent theme in the consumer market this half-year.
Insight Two: The Global Popularity of Chinese Goods
In the first half, China's total goods trade import and export value reached 25.47 trillion yuan, surpassing 25 trillion yuan for the first time during the same period in history, with a year-on-year growth of 16.9%. Exports grew by over 10%, marking the 11th consecutive quarter of growth. This growth stems from the precise alignment of "Made in China" with diverse global demands. This summer, a heatwave sweeping across Europe made Chinese air conditioners a hot commodity in the European market. From fans and air conditioners to new energy vehicles, energy storage systems, and intelligent mining trucks, batches of Chinese "smart manufacturing" are gaining fans worldwide. In the first half, China's mechanical and electrical product exports reached 9.36 trillion yuan, accounting for 63.5% of total exports. Exports of electronic components and computer parts both achieved double-digit growth. Lithium battery exports grew by 37.6%, wind turbine exports by 35.6%, while electric vehicles, electric motorcycles, and bicycles grew by 68.7% and 31.5%, respectively. Behind the global popularity of "Chinese goods" lies the robust support of China's complete manufacturing supply chain and responsive system, coupled with continuously evolving innovation and R&D capabilities.
Insight Three: Strategic Investment in the "Six Networks"
In the first half, the "Six Networks," incorporated into the national top-level deployment, became a buzzword in the investment sector. Systematically advancing the construction of these networks is a strategic move to expand effective investment, stabilize economic growth, and shape future competitive advantages. It also serves as a safeguard for improving public welfare and daily life. The "Six Networks"—water networks, new-type power grids, computing power networks, next-generation communication networks, urban underground pipe networks, and logistics networks—are constantly refreshing their progress bars. On one hand, traditional infrastructure is being strengthened to address weaknesses and enhance capacity: the Pinglu Canal has achieved full water connectivity and is expected to open to navigation in September; the Three Gorges New Waterway Project has also officially commenced, heralding a new leap in transport capacity. On the other hand, new infrastructure is laying the groundwork for long-term development: in Yangjiang, Guangdong, a gigawatt-level computing power center with a total investment exceeding 110 billion yuan is accelerating its deployment tens of meters under the sea. In the future, this will become a globally leading marine computing power industry base. The Tibet-Guangdong ultra-high-voltage direct current project is progressing rapidly, enabling clean power from melting snow in the mountains to be transmitted across over a thousand kilometers to Guangdong in just 9 milliseconds. China's first Pre6G trial network has been put into operation, boosting communication capabilities tenfold. This year, investment related to the "Six Networks" construction is expected to exceed 7 trillion yuan, providing strong momentum for high-quality development.
Insight Four: AI Leadership and Industrial Transformation
If there's one standout in the industrial sphere this half-year, AI undoubtedly takes center stage. Driven by technological breakthroughs, widespread application scenarios, production scaling, and multiple favorable factors, new growth drivers have not only made significant contributions but also demonstrated strong momentum and staying power. This year, domestic large-scale AI models have achieved successive performance breakthroughs, accelerating from being "very clever" to "truly useful": AI tutors provide one-on-one language practice, AI assistants generate presentations with one click, and digital avatars host live-streamed sales 24/7. The embodied intelligence industry is also seeing accelerated capacity expansion and commercial delivery: the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology estimates that China's annual production of humanoid robots could exceed 100,000 units by 2026, with one robot rolling off the assembly line in as fast as 30 minutes. Application scenarios are becoming increasingly practical: entering factories, managing logistics, performing tasks, and even entertainment, with growing emotional value. In the first half, new growth drivers represented by high-end manufacturing, the digital and intelligent economy, and modern services contributed over 40% to economic growth. The added value of the electronics industry grew by 14.8% year-on-year, maintaining its top position among major industrial categories. New quality productive forces, represented by artificial intelligence, are steadily driving China's industries toward innovation and quality upgrades.
Insight Five: Emerging Professions and New Employment Opportunities
In the first half, the national average surveyed urban unemployment rate was 5.2%, unchanged from the same period last year. China's employment situation remains generally stable, with industrial upgrades generating a large number of emerging positions. The Ministry of Education recently added 27 new vocational education undergraduate and college majors, precisely aligned with the needs of new industries, formats, scenarios, and models. These focus on the digital economy, artificial intelligence, high-end equipment, urban renewal, and areas with urgent public demand, signaling a strong emphasis on cultivating high-skilled talent. The latest batch of new professions and job types publicized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security also points to new employment frontiers. Those included in the official catalog are mature occupations that have already formed a certain scale of practitioners and have clear skill standards. Roles like Embodied Intelligent Robot Application Technicians, Digital Twin Engineering Technicians, and Industrial Product Digital Modelers are filled with hardcore tech appeal. As digital transformation across industries intensifies, demand is high for versatile technical talent with both knowledge and practical skills. New energy support roles are also emerging, including Corporate Sustainable Development Planners and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Manufacturing Workers, indicating that the green industry is becoming a significant growth pole for new employment. Emerging consumer sectors in public welfare are releasing many positions, such as Sports Data Analysts, Perfume Craft Artists, and Aging-Friendly Renovation Designers. These new formats serving a better quality of life are continuously expanding new employment scenarios. As the economy upgrades, so do the opportunities! These new tracks are worth close attention.
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