China’s consumer market grows 2.5% from Jan–Aug 2026, service consumption up 4.9%
China’s Ministry of Commerce reported that total retail sales of consumer goods and services grew 2.5% year-on-year from January to August 2026. Service consumption rose 4.9%, outpacing commodity sales by 3.9 percentage points. Rural retail sales reached RMB 4.4 trillion, growing 2.3%, 1.3 percentage points faster than urban areas. County and township retail sales accounted for 39% of total consumer goods sales, up 0.3 percentage points.
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China's Consumer Market Stable, Improving from January to August, Ministry Says
According to a September 20 statement from China's Ministry of Commerce, the country's consumer market remained stable and improved from January to August 2026, with total retail sales of social consumption goods and services rising 2.5% year-on-year. The consumption structure continued to optimize. Commodity consumption grew steadily, with total retail sales of consumer goods up 1.1%, and sales excluding automobiles up 2.7%. Basic daily necessities saw solid growth, while upgraded products like communications equipment (up 16.3%) and cosmetics (up 6.1%) grew faster. Green, smart, and healthy products surged, with smart glasses sales up 1.2 times and ECG monitor sales up 75%. Service consumption demand was strong, with retail sales of services increasing 4.9%, significantly outpacing goods. The summer vacation boosted tourism and cultural services. Rural consumption potential was released, with rural retail sales up 2.3%, 1.3 percentage points faster than urban areas, and county-level retail accounting for 39% of total consumer goods sales.
Read sourceChina's Commerce Ministry Reports 2.5% Growth in Retail Sales from January to August 2026
On September 20, the head of the Ministry of Commerce's Department of Consumption Promotion announced that China's total retail sales of social consumer goods and services from January to August 2026 increased by 2.5% year-on-year. The official stated that the consumer market is stable and improving, with continued optimization of the consumption structure. Commodity consumption grew steadily, with total retail sales of consumer goods rising 1.1%, and retail sales excluding automobiles increasing by 2.7%. Service consumption showed strong demand, with retail sales of services surging 4.9%, outpacing goods sales by 3.9 percentage points. The official attributed this to residents' increasingly diverse consumption needs and a structural shift from primarily commodity consumption to equal emphasis on both goods and services. Additionally, rural consumption potential is being released, with the county-level consumer market showing continued vitality and ongoing optimization of the urban-rural consumption structure.
China's Consumer Market Shows Stable Growth from January to August 2026, Official Says
On September 20, the head of the Department of Consumption Promotion of China's Ministry of Commerce reported on the country's consumer market from January to August 2026. Total retail sales of social consumption goods and services increased by 2.5% year-on-year. Commodity consumption grew steadily, with total retail sales of consumer goods up 1.1%, and excluding automobiles, up 2.7%. Basic daily necessities saw solid growth, while upgraded products like communications equipment (16.3%), cosmetics (6.1%), and cultural office supplies (6.0%) grew faster. Petroleum products fell 6.1% due to new energy substitution. Green, smart, and healthy products surged, with smart glasses sales up 1.2 times and ECG monitors up 75%. Service consumption demand was strong, with retail sales of services up 4.9%, outpacing goods. Rural consumption potential was released, with rural retail sales of consumer goods reaching 4.4 trillion yuan, up 2.3%, and county-level retail accounting for 39% of total, up 0.3 percentage points year-on-year.
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China Commerce Ministry Official Reports Stable Consumer Market Growth from January to August 2026
The head of the Department of Consumption Promotion at China's Ministry of Commerce reported on the country's consumer market from January to August 2026. Total retail sales of social consumer goods and services grew 2.5% year-on-year, indicating a stable and improving market with an optimized consumption structure. Commodity consumption grew steadily, with total retail sales of consumer goods up 1.1%, excluding automobiles which rose 2.7%. Basic necessities like grain, oil, and food grew 6.8%, while upgraded products such as communications equipment surged 16.3%. Service consumption demand was strong, with retail sales of services increasing 4.9%, significantly outpacing goods. Rural consumption potential was released, with rural retail sales rising 2.3%, 1.3 percentage points faster than urban areas. The county and township retail share reached 39% of total retail sales, up 0.3 percentage points from last year.
Read sourceChina's Consumer Market Stable from January to August 2026, Service Consumption Grows 4.9%
According to a statement from the head of the Department of Consumption Promotion of China's Ministry of Commerce, reported by Jinshi Data on September 20, the country's consumer market showed stable improvement from January to August 2026. Total retail sales of social consumer goods and services increased by 2.5% year-on-year. Commodity consumption grew steadily, with total retail sales of consumer goods up 1.1%, and retail sales excluding automobiles rising 2.7%. Service consumption demand was strong, with retail sales of services increasing by 4.9%, 3.9 percentage points faster than goods retail. The consumption structure is shifting from mainly commodity consumption to equal emphasis on both goods and services. Rural consumption potential is being released, with the county consumer market vitality continuing to improve, optimizing the urban-rural consumption structure.
Read sourceChina's Consumption Market Stable from January to August 2026, Official Says
According to the head of the Department of Consumption Promotion of China's Ministry of Commerce, the country's consumer market from January to August 2026 showed stable improvement and continued structural optimization. Total retail sales of social consumer goods and services increased by 2.5% year-on-year. Commodity consumption grew steadily, with total retail sales of consumer goods up 1.1%, and sales excluding automobiles rising 2.7%. Basic daily necessities saw solid growth, while upgraded products like communications equipment (up 16.3%) and cosmetics (up 6.1%) grew faster. Green, smart, and healthy products surged, with smart glasses sales up 1.2 times and ECG monitor sales up 75%. Service consumption demand was strong, with retail sales of services growing 4.9%, significantly outpacing goods. Rural consumption potential continued to be released, with rural retail sales of consumer goods reaching 4.4 trillion yuan, up 2.3%, and its growth rate 1.3 percentage points faster than urban areas. The share of county and township retail sales in total consumer goods rose to 39%.
Read sourceChina's Consumer Market Shows Steady Growth and Quality Improvement in January-August
According to a statement from China's Ministry of Commerce on September 20, an official from the Department of Consumption Promotion commented on the consumer market performance from January to August 2026. Total retail sales of consumer goods and services grew by 2.5% year-on-year, indicating steady growth with quality improvement and continued optimization of the consumption structure. Commodity consumption showed stable growth, with total retail sales of consumer goods up 1.1%. Basic living commodities performed well, with grain, oil, and food products up 6.8%, clothing up 5.1%, and daily necessities up 3.8%. Upgraded categories like communication equipment (16.3%), cosmetics (6.1%), and cultural and office supplies (6.0%) grew faster. Petroleum product sales declined 6.1% due to new energy substitution. Smart glasses sales surged 1.2 times, ECG monitors rose 75%, and action cameras increased 26.9%. Service consumption retail sales grew 4.9%, outpacing commodity retail sales by 3.9 percentage points, driven by summer tourism. Rural retail sales reached 4.4 trillion yuan, growing 2.3%, exceeding urban growth by 1.3 percentage points.
Read sourceChina's Consumer Market Stable from January to August 2026, Service Consumption Grows 4.9%
According to the Head of the Department of Consumption Promotion at China's Ministry of Commerce, the country's consumer market remained stable with improved quality from January to August 2026. Total retail sales of consumer goods and services grew by 2.5% year-on-year. Commodity consumption maintained steady growth, with total retail sales of consumer goods increasing by 1.1%, excluding certain categories like automobiles and cosmetics. Service consumption demand was robust, with retail sales of services growing by 4.9%, outpacing commodity sales by 3.9 percentage points, driven by summer holiday activities such as tourism consulting and rental services. Rural consumption potential was unleashed, with retail sales of consumer goods in rural areas reaching RMB 4.4 trillion, growing by 2.3%, a rate 1.3 percentage points faster than urban areas. The share of county and township retail sales in total retail sales of consumer goods reached 39%, up 0.3 percentage points from the same period last year, indicating an optimized urban-rural consumption structure.
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