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China consumption

China consumption
The latest news, analysis and opinion on China consumption. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Home buyers shop at a pre-sale property in Yangxin county, Binzhou city, in eastern China’s Shandong province, on February 23. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images
China economy

Opinion | China’s new property pivot is coming. Expect full stabilisation ahead

As property curbs to boost spending hit practical limits, a push to stabilise assets is now being seen as a prerequisite for consumer confidence.

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China travel

‘Structurally hurt’: why are Chinese tourists spending less abroad than before?

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China energy security

Can China’s cheap, renewable energy help it outrun the US in the AI race?

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China's economic recovery

China prioritises export controls, supply chains to shield economy in 2026

Commerce ministry also pledges to boost domestic demand, services and two-way investment over coming year.

Beijing has deployed export controls amid the US-China trade war as well as trade and diplomatic disputes with other countries. Photo: AP
China’s private sector

Changing tastes: China’s new affluent consumers seek quality not extravagance

Rise of upper middle class reshapes China’s retail market, driving demand for quality goods and creating a battleground for global brands.

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Kweichow Moutai

Horse power: brands in China seek sales boost with Lunar New Year items

Distiller Kweichow Moutai among the companies launching limited-run Year of the Horse products to jolt revenues during the festive season.

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China inflation

China prices pick up, Venezuela raid fallout, Carney visit

This week: China inflation hits highest since February 2023, US abduction of Venezuela’s Maduro spurs criticism, Meta-Manus deal draws scrutiny. Next week: Canada’s Carney visits China, December trade figures come out, Jimmy Lai returns to court in Hong Kong and more.

Photo: EPA
China inflation

China’s consumer prices stay flat in 2025 amid focus on price wars

Beijing has been intensifying efforts to combat industrial overcapacity and fierce competition in key sectors, aiming to stabilise the economy and support growth.

US-China trade war

China says US trade war, tech curbs have spurred ‘independent innovation’

In the first year of new five-year plan, party mouthpiece says list of ‘chokepoint technologies’ is narrowing.

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Banking & finance

China signals flexible use of monetary tools in 2026 to support 5-year plan

Boosting domestic demand, addressing debt risks and promoting yuan’s international use also priorities for coming year.

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The People’s Bank of China has announced a series of goals for 2026, from promoting cross-border yuan use to increasing domestic consumption and managing debt risks. Photo: Shutterstock
China trade

China, South Korea sign US$44 million in trade deals after years of friction

High-level summit strengthens bilateral ties after years of strained relations, as China shores up regional relationships amid row with Japan.

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(L-R) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his wife, Kim Hea Kyung take a selfie with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, by using a Xiaomi smartphone following a state dinner in Beijing on Monday. Photo: EPA/Yonhap/South Korea Out
China economy

Opinion | Why China is still struggling to ‘invest in people’

To boost demand, Beijing must upend its long-held mantra of production over livelihoods and investment over consumption.

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Tourism

Travellers hoof it in China as horseback tourism makes strides

As Year of the Horse approaches, tourism operators are saddling up to capture enthusiasm for equestrian activity.

China’s film industry

China’s box office up 22% in 2025 to US$7.4 billion, led by smash hit Ne Zha 2

World’s second-largest movie market sees domestic films capture nearly 80 per cent of sales, while Disney’s Zootopia sequel sets new high for imported titles.

A display promoting the record-breaking animated hit Ne Zha 2 is seen in China’s Liaoning province on February 13. Photo: Xinhua
China inflation

China must take action to avoid Japan-style deflation spiral, scholars warn

Unless Beijing introduces more forceful policies, consumers could get locked into a mindset that is ‘nearly impossible to break’, scholars say.

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New cars are advertised for sale at deep discounts at a showroom in Chengdu, southwest China. Photo: Reuters
China travel

China’s service sector shines as holidaymakers eye bespoke adventures with pets

While broader consumption remains soft, demand for personalised itineraries and snow sports is growing, offering a boost to the holiday economy.

Tourism

China’s Gen Z consumers drive rise in homestay bookings to ring in the new year

Gen Z travellers made up more than 50 per cent of total homestay bookings for the 2026 New Year’s holiday period.

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China's economic recovery

China rolls out trade-in funding for 2026 as campaign to spur spending continues

The programme, which has helped stimulate consumption increases, will continue to subsidise purchases of big-ticket goods and refurbishments.

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China’s consumer goods trade-in programme subsidises, among others, the purchases of big-ticket items such as automobiles and home appliances. Photo: Getty Images
China economy

Opinion | How China’s home-grown luxury labels took on Western brands

Chinese brands are gaining ground at home and worldwide as domestic consumers increasingly turn to labels with Chinese imagery and values.

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China manufacturing

China’s factory activity breaks 8-month contraction, but headwinds persist

China’s manufacturing PMI rose to 50.1 in December, but analysts said it was too early to point to a sustained recovery.

Hainan

China’s Hainan hosts duty-free shopping spree under new customs regime

A flurry of activity accompanied the official establishment of the island’s tariff and tax exemptions - but will the frenzy last?

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The Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex in Haikou, capital of Hainan province. Photo: Xinhua
China's economic recovery

Consumer demand and public services top China’s financial priorities for 2026

National fiscal work conference ends in Beijing with pledge to spur domestic market.

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The Ministry of Finance says it will this year focus on building a robust domestic market through “vigorously boosting consumption”. Photo: Xinhua
China-EU relations

Wild goose chase? France works to rouse China’s appetite for foie gras imports

French producers hope their famed pate can win a slice of China’s market, but price sensitivities and domestic competition could mean their goose is cooked.

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China's economic recovery

China broadens foreign investment list in renewed pitch for overseas capital

The catalogue, which lists the sectors carrying policy incentives for overseas investors, has hundreds of new entries, many in advanced manufacturing.

China economy

Hard work, long hours fuelled China’s rise. Now, it weighs longer breaks

China, one of the world’s hardest-working countries, is adopting incentives to increase time off – and potentially boost consumer spending.

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Workers at the construction site for the main tower of Harbin Ice and Snow World in Harbin, China. Photo: Xinhua
China economy

Editorial | China’s resolve to invest in people is economic good sense

The government’s plan to invest in people as well as physical assets is aimed at improving domestic demand while aiding low-income households.

A worker operates machinery at a textile factory in Qingdao, in eastern China’s Shandong province on December 15. Photo: AFP
China property

China vows city-specific fixes to clear housing glut, stabilise property sector

Housing minister pledges to empower local governments to buy unsold inventory and shift towards selling only finished homes with a ‘what you see is what you get’ model.

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Yuan

What China’s global yuan push looks like – and what could hold it back

Currency sees wider use in trade, but high domestic savings and partial capital controls still act as constraints, analysis shows.

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