Topic 1: China raised the individual income tax threshold from 2,000 yuan ($309.28) to 3,500 yuan a month recently, which is 500 yuan more than that proposed in the original draft issued a few months ago. The new policy will be executed from Sept 1. The final amendment is partly a result of heated public discussion on the issue, with many citizens expressing their opinion that the threshold should be raised further than just 3,000 yuan when the original draft came out. Micro-bloggers are very active in talking about the upcoming policy.

DON'T HESITATE ANY MORE 918: I don't think the new policy means a lot if we take into account the continuously rising CPI (consumer price index). It would be much better if the government can regulate the prices of medical services, housing, food and necessities for life well.

STONE2219687225: If our salaries could go up a bit, I think it's acceptable for people to pay the personal income taxes. However, I wish that the price surge could come to an end, such as the price of pork. It really becomes quite burdensome for blue- and white-collar workers with the constant inflation.

Topic 2:

The People's Bank of China, China's central bank, announced on July 6 that it would raise one-year borrowing and lending interest rates by 25 basis points. The new rates took effect on July 7. This is the third time the central bank has increased interest rates this year to fight surging inflation. Micro-bloggers have different perspectives on the move.

LUOYIZHISHUI: I'm wondering whether raising interest rates is the central bank's last approach to handling the situation.

HIJESSIE-: It has already been hard to purchase an apartment in China, and just think about what this move will bring to those who bought housing on loans.

FANGGUFENG: Another interest rates hike! For people like us who have no deposits in bank accounts and have to pay several thousand yuan a month for a house loan, life is becoming more and more difficult.

TO DUNK LIKE T-MAC: For people for purchased apartments on loans, the interest rate hike took back the money they saved from the new personal income tax policy.