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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.
New construction projects in China have declined in recent years amid a property downturn, which continues to affect downstream industries. Photo: Getty Images
US-China relations

As China’s property downturn grinds on, foreign suppliers strive to adapt

US lift giant Otis is riding a growing trend for retrofitting older buildings in China, as new construction projects remain thin on the ground.

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Food and agriculture

How ‘salmon’ raised in landlocked Xinjiang is netting fans in China

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Mainland China

China consumer firms post strong results but analysts warn recovery may lag

China trade

Chinese island province wants more than beachgoers as it chases economic growth

After three speculative booms – and busts – the island province is seeking sustainable growth based on new status as a free-trade port.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Two Sessions 2026

Opinion | To unlock consumption, China must go local

China’s consumption drive will test Beijing’s willingness to give local governments room to experiment.

China society

Opinion | China’s high household savings reflect old values and new anxieties

Economic uncertainties strengthen the deep cultural instinct for thrift. Policies must address the anxieties that make saving feel necessary.

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China jobs

Survey shows China’s professionals have high expectations – for low pay

As some Chinese workers switch jobs to boost salaries, many remain pessimistic about pay increases amid economic uncertainty.

Hays found that 51 per cent of professionals in China also received no pay rise in 2025, a sign of wider pressures in the job market. Photo: Shutterstock
Mainland China

Video | Chinese brands carve out place in snow gear market

Growing number of Chinese ski resorts are turning to local snow equipment as the nation’s ‘ice and snow’ economy develops.

Shanghai

How record F1 crowds are accelerating Shanghai’s bid to be a global sports hub

Setting a near 20-year attendance record, this year’s race strengthened the city’s case as global event venue – and China’s efforts to spur consumption.

China GDP

China’s economy starts 2026 strongly as retail sales, investment rise

Before the Iran energy crisis and latest round of China-US trade talks, retail spending grew 2.8 per cent while fixed-asset investment increased 1.8 per cent.

People shop at a duty-free shopping mall in Sanya, south China’s Hainan province, on December 18, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
Tourism

Chinese bubble tea chain Mixue straps in for theme park project

World’s largest food-service chain is looking to monetise its Snow King mascot and give a boost to hometown economy.

Mixue’s Snow King mascot strikes a gong during the company’s listing ceremony at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in March last year. Photo: Reuters
Chow Tai Fook

Bling it on: Chow Tai Fook’s US$115,000 gold AirPods case sparks online buzz

Gold gadgets and hair clips ignite discussion online as the jeweller looks to the ultra-rich to set the gold standard for luxury spending.

Two Sessions 2026

Beijing urged to boost rural pensions as lawmakers fight for farmers’ fair share

Appeals highlight a long-standing lack of benefits for elderly citizens outside cities, and proposals include leveraging state assets and new taxes to bridge the vast disparity.

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Artificial intelligence

China’s OpenClaw users paid to install viral AI. Now they spend to remove it

The shift comes as top cybersecurity expert warns country now home to 40 per cent of global assets linked to OpenClaw.

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The logo of OpenClaw, an open-source AI assistant, is seen on the software’s website in this illustration picture taken March 12. Photo: Reuters
China food security

China targets record food-security push in shadow of US-Israeli war with Iran

Beijing is pushing for bigger harvests in its new five-year plan, coinciding with renewed pressure on global supply chains.

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Workers harvest rice in China’s Zhejiang province in October. Photo: Xinhua
China energy security

As war on Iran escalates, Asia scrambles to deal with global energy fallout

China, Japan and South Korea have all taken steps to reduce impact of supply shortages – but analysts warn of spillover.

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Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Why China’s economic reset is a credibility test for Hong Kong

As China rewrites the growth playbook, Hong Kong must show it can anchor the offshore financing and price discovery this reset requires.

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China deflation

China’s inflation rises after holiday spending spree. Is 2% target reachable?

The consumer price index rose 0.8 per cent in the first two months of 2026, though analysts remain concerned about long-term deflation risks.

Shoppers stand near a Chinese New Year display in central Beijing. Photo: AP
China property

China’s shoppers head for suburban outlets, a bright spot in retail property

Outlet spending nearly doubles to around US$36 billion over five years, prompting investment surge while urban malls suffer high vacancies.

Two Sessions 2026

8 takeaways from the economic briefing at China’s ‘two sessions’

China’s top economic officials laid out their priorities for trade, technology and investment in 2026.

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Two Sessions 2026

China vows support for tech, trade rebalance, stock reforms - as it happened

The heads of China’s major economic institutions detailed plans for growth, trade and tech on the sidelines of the ‘two sessions’.

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Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao, left, speaks during a press conference on the economy in Beijing. Photo: EPA
Two Sessions 2026

China pivots to ‘investing in people’ strategy as growth engine switches gears

Premier announces changes in spending priorities, aiming to boost consumption, but doubts remain whether resources will match ambitions.

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A worker uses machinery at a steel structure firm in China’s Sichuan province. China will raise the average duration of education for the working-age population to 11.7 years by 2030. Photo: Xinhua
Two Sessions 2026

China’s economic development draft report 2026

China released its draft 2026 economic and social development plan, allocating 250 billion yuan to support consumer goods trade-in programmes.

Two Sessions 2026

China’s pivot from GDP obsession sparks cadre confusion, tests local governance

Governors and mayors must reconcile Beijing’s people-centric mandates with traditional growth targets, navigating vague appraisal changes and performance concepts.

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Two Sessions 2026

China’s leaders outline economic focus ahead of ‘two sessions’ – what to expect

Top officials met ahead of Beijing’s annual legislative sessions, when this year’s growth target and five-year plan will be unveiled.

Beijing is gearing up for the “two sessions”, the annual legislative meetings of China’s two main political bodies – the National People’s Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Photo: EPA-EFE
Two Sessions 2026

China’s February Politburo readout

SCMP Plus annotates the official report on the February meeting of China’s top decision-making body, as leaders prepare for the annual legislative meetings known as the “two sessions”.

China’s February Politburo readout
Two Sessions 2026

After years of ‘at-all-costs’ growth, China wants cadres to ditch GDP obsession

Five-month campaign seen prioritising social welfare and long-term sustainability over economic expansion, with debt, fraud and vanity projects in crosshairs.

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China travel

Why China’s travellers spent little, despite rise in Chinese New Year trips

The country logged a record 596 million domestic trips over the extended holiday, but consumers are still reluctant to loosen their purse strings.

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