China accelerates budget spending to counter tariff woes

China expanded government spending at the fastest rate for any first quarter since 2022, ramping up support for an economy bracing for foreign demand declines as a trade war with the US intensifies.

The combined expenditure in the general public budget and the government fund account, China's two main fiscal books, rose to 9.26 trillion yuan ($1.3 trillion) in the first three months, an increase of 5.6% from the same period a year earlier, according to Bloomberg calculations based on data released by the Ministry of Finance on Friday. That was the strongest gain for the first quarter in three years. 

The numbers meant nearly 22% of the outlays planned for the full year was spent in the period, faster than 21.6% at the same point last year. 

China has to strengthen public spending to shield the economy as surging American tariffs could send its exports into contraction while a years-long housing market downturn and deflation keep consumer and business sentiment weak. Its growth held up in January-March, but economists broadly expect it to slow sharply from the second quarter after the wave of export front-loading passes and benefits from a consumer trade-in program taper off. 

Several major banks have downgraded their forecast on China's expansion this year to 4% or lower, well below the government's goal of around 5%. Officials are focusing on implementing supportive measures announced at last month's parliamentary session, though they also said they have ample scope and tools to add stimulus when necessary.

"Fiscal policy will turn from a growth drag last year to a major driver this year, although it should be still insufficient to fully offset the impact of external shocks," Goldman Sachs Group Inc. economist Lisheng Wang wrote in a Saturday note.

Top leaders will likely strengthen the easing rhetoric in the meetings of the Communist Party's decision-making Politburo this month and in July, and the National People's Congress could approve an extra-budget bond issuance quota later this year, he said. The central bank is expected to cut policy rates, lower the amount of reserve lenders must keep in reserve, and buy bonds as the government further accelerates debt issuance and spending of the money raised in coming months, he added.

Faster tax rebate payouts have been cited by some analysts as an option to help offset some squeeze posed by US tariffs on exporters. The payout as a share of exports last month came in at 11%, only up slightly from the level a year earlier, according to Bloomberg calculations based on official data. 

The property downturn remained a drag on government income last month, with land sales shrinking 16.5% on year and real estate-related revenues falling 0.1%.

Tax revenue declined on year for a second straight month while the increase in non-tax income almost halved. Local authorities rushed to sell bonds to swap the so-called "hidden debt" onto their books in a program aimed at alleviating their cash strains and reducing excessive fines imposed on businesses, which are a source of non-tax income. 

The continued contraction in land sales and tax revenues meant total income under the two major budgets fell 2.6% on year to 6.94 trillion yuan in the first quarter. 

The gap between government income and spending broadened as a result, with the broad budget deficit soaring 41% on year to 2.3 trillion yuan.