NBS Interpretation: Investment Structure Moves Toward New and Better Directions in January-August, with Rapid Growth in Investment in Key Areas

On September 15, Zhang Gang of the Investment Department of the National Bureau of Statistics interpreted the investment data for January-August 2026. From January to August, investment in new quality productive forces continued the good growth momentum since the beginning of the year, investment related to technological progress and industrial upgrading accelerated, investment in key areas grew rapidly, and the optimization of the investment structure continued to advance. Among these, emerging industries grew rapidly, investment in new quality productive forces was active, and the growth rate of investment in high-tech industries continued to accelerate. From January to August, investment in high-tech industries increased by 5.2% year on year, 0.2 percentage points faster than from January to July, driving overall investment growth by 0.5 percentage points. The original text is as follows: Investment Structure Moves Toward New and Better Directions, with Rapid Growth in Investment in Key Areas Zhang Gang of the Investment Department of the National Bureau of Statistics Interprets the Investment Data for January-August 2026 From January to August, investment in new quality productive forces continued the good growth momentum since the beginning of the year, investment related to technological progress and industrial upgrading accelerated, investment in key areas grew rapidly, and the optimization of the investment structure continued to advance. I. The growth rate of investment in high-tech industries continued to accelerate Emerging industries grew rapidly, investment in new quality productive forces was active, and the growth rate of investment in high-tech industries continued to accelerate. From January to August, investment in high-tech industries increased by 5.2% year on year, 0.2 percentage points faster than from January to July, driving overall investment growth by 0.5 percentage points. From January to August, investment in high-tech manufacturing increased by 3.5% year on year, 0.2 percentage points faster than from January to July. Among these, investment in electronic circuit manufacturing increased by 58.8%, 1.1 percentage points faster; investment in integrated circuit manufacturing increased by 12.0%, 0.5 percentage points faster; investment in lithium-ion battery manufacturing increased by 20.6%; and investment in electronic specialty materials manufacturing increased by 8.5%. From January to August, investment in high-tech services increased by 8.4% year on year. Investment in information services, which is closely related to artificial intelligence and other ShenZhen New Industries Biomedical Engineering, increased by 22.7%, 3.5 percentage points faster than from January to July. II. Investment in intellectual property products showed good growth momentum Investment in scientific and technological innovation continued to strengthen, and investment in intellectual property products maintained relatively rapid growth. From January to August, national investment in intellectual property products increased by 9.2% year on year, 0.1 percentage points faster than from January to July; its share of total investment was 15.2%, 0.4 percentage points higher than the same period of the previous year; and it drove overall investment growth by 1.2 percentage points. III. The growth rate of investment in equipment purchases increased The effects of the "two new" policies continued to emerge, and growth in investment in equipment purchases continued to accelerate. From January to August, investment in the purchase of equipment and tools increased by 9.3% year on year, 0.3 percentage points faster than from January to July; its share of total investment was 19.5%, 2.9 percentage points higher than the same period of the previous year; and it drove overall investment growth by 1.5 percentage points. IV. Infrastructure investment in key areas grew rapidly The planning and implementation of investment and construction in areas related to the "six networks" accelerated, and the construction of "two major" projects advanced steadily, driving relatively rapid growth in infrastructure investment in key areas. From January to August, investment in the internet and related services industry increased by 42.0% year on year, 0.7 percentage points faster than from January to July; investment in the air transport industry increased by 16.7%, 1.0 percentage point faster; investment in the water transport industry increased by 14.7%; and investment in the electricity supply industry increased by 12.7%. V. Investment in industrial upgrading toward better development continued to expand The construction of a modern industrial system made steady progress and achieved new advances, the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries showed new vitality, and industrial investment steadily entered a new path toward better development. From January to August, investment in mining increased by 3.4% year on year, driving overall industrial investment growth by 0.2 percentage points. Investment in the equipment manufacturing industry increased by 0.9%, driving overall industrial investment growth by 0.3 percentage points. Among these, investment in the manufacture of railway, ship, aerospace, and other transport equipment increased by 16.3%; investment in the manufacture of computers, communication equipment, and other electronic equipment increased by 8.1%, 0.3 percentage points faster than from January to July. In the next stage, it is necessary to earnestly implement the arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, improve quality and efficiency in the use of fiscal expenditures, various types of bond funds, and new policy-based financial instruments, intensify efforts to advance the construction of "two major" projects and the "two new" work, solidly promote the implementation and construction of "six networks" projects, cultivate and develop emerging industries in accordance with local conditions, optimize and upgrade traditional industries, deeply promote the construction of a modern industrial system, adhere to coordinated efforts in investing in both physical assets and people, continue to optimize and improve the investment structure and efficiency, and better unleash the potential of effective investment. This article was edited and selected from the official website of the "National Bureau of Statistics." GMTEight editor: Feng Qiuyi.