The rise of China

Cleanest headline measure of total economic scale — nominal GDP in U.S. dollars.

Tracks whether China is only getting bigger or also getting richer per person.

Absolute population level — now declining, a structural headwind for future GDP growth.

Core measure of China's industrial intensity — output of manufacturing, mining, and utilities.

Direct measure of China's export machine — total goods shipped to the world.

Net exports — surplus reflects manufacturing dominance and domestic demand weakness.

Tracks China's rising share of global merchandise trade at purchasing power parity.

High-level proxy for China's inventive output — patents granted by the U.S. Patent Office.

Net international position — surplus funds military and infrastructure buildout abroad.

Yuan strength signals capital flows and Beijing's willingness to let the currency appreciate.

Largest China equity ETF — market's real-time pricing of Chinese corporate earnings power.

Tracks China's tech giants — Alibaba, Tencent, JD — the consumer internet economy.

Broad China equity exposure including A-shares — widest market signal available.