China industrial production, retail sales and unemployment - July 2026 data

China's National Bureau of Statistics released its July 2026 activity data on August 17. Industrial production grew 4.5 percent year on year, below the 5.0 percent forecast and June's 5.3 percent; retail sales rose just 0.6 percent and urban unemployment climbed to 5.2 percent. Chinese industrial output drives global steel and copper demand, bearing on commodities tied to Iran's exports.