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Consumers

Consumers
News about consumer spending and shifting shopping habits from around the world with a focus on developments in Hong Kong and mainland China.
People walk past an EV showroom inside a shopping mall in Beijing. Photo: AP
China property

China mall shuffle: as EVs exit, who’s filling the ground-floor showrooms?

New demand for mall space comes from brands riding fresh trends, including Unitree Robotics, Pop Mart and Lululemon.

Hong Kong

Video | Taiwanese band Mayday angers fans by changing Hong Kong date

Chow Tai Fook

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

Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla’s 91% February sales jump in China defies overall market slowdown

The US carmaker’s Shanghai Gigafactory delivered nearly 58,600 vehicles last month, with the Model Y topping the sales chart.

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Tesla cars are displayed outside a showroom in Chongqing, China. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong economy

Over 170 complaints filed after Mayday shifts Hong Kong show: Consumer Council

Watchdog says 80 complaints came from residents and rest from fans outside city, primarily mainland China.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Geely beats BYD sales in first 2 months of 2026 to become China’s top carmaker

Geely’s sales rise 1 per cent to 476,327 units in January and February, while BYD’s sales slump 38.5 per cent to 400,241 units.

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Beauty

Romi Beauty’s founders on creating multitasking products for Asian skin

Arissa Cheo, Yoyo Cao and Lin Ting sat down with Style as the Singaporean make-up and skincare brand lands at Sephora in Hong Kong.

Romi Beauty founders (from left) Yoyo Cao, Arissa Cheo and Lin Ting want the Singaporean brand to highlight natural beauty rather than hide it. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV maker Nio forecasts surge in deliveries after first quarterly profit

The company’s turnaround highlights resilience in China’s EV market, defying a slowdown that has weighed on most domestic rivals.

Hong Kong entertainment

Sour note for fans after Taiwanese rock band Mayday switches Hong Kong date

Veteran rockers’ show originally scheduled for March 24 cancelled, with new concert added on March 29.

The Philippines

Philippines’ fuel shock exposes limits of deregulated oil market

Consumer groups say households are left to absorb rising costs as the government rolls out conservation measures and considers fuel tax relief.

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Protesters hold slogans that read “Junk the oil deregulation law” during a rally against the recent big oil price increase on Tuesday outside a petrol station in Quezon City, the Philippines. Photo: AP
Retailing

Middle East tensions add uncertainty to Hong Kong retail rents, Wharf REIC says

The landlord of Harbour City and Times Square says retail recovery remains fragile, with higher mall traffic failing to boost spending.

Harbour City generated HK$9.22 billion in revenue in 2025, up 1 per cent from a year earlier. Photo: Jelly Tse
Paris Fashion Week

Paris Fashion Week 2026: Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel revolution

Blazy’s collection included Chanel’s signature skirt suits in silicone and other synthetic materials, with sequins and floral flourishes.

Malaysia

1 holy month, 1 year’s income: Malaysia’s Ramadan bazaar boom

Rents have doubled, ingredient costs keep climbing, yet for the stallholders at Malaysia’s bazaars, no other month comes close.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Iran war oil shock accelerates Southeast Asia’s EV revolution

Southeast Asia was already going electric. Then war broke out in the Middle East and it started going faster.

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Electric cars inside BYD’s first EV factory in Thailand. Observers say this year has proved a turning point for EV uptake across Southeast Asia. Photo: Reuters
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.

Consumers shop at Florentia Village in suburban Shanghai. Photo: Maggie Zhang
Fashion

Jeff Staple, designer of the Nike Pigeon, talks hype, sneakers and streetwear

The streetwear icon just opened a Hong Kong store and launched a new line with Kenji Wong – and once pursued his first-ever collaboration with Brooks for 8 years.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Top Chinese EV makers are selling more cars overseas than at home

Top EV makers such as BYD, Great Wall Motor and Chery are selling more cars in overseas markets than at home.

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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
China exports

Chinese companies expand globally

Chinese firms are investing in overseas factories and marketing to develop global brands. Domestic price wars are pushing more companies to go global – “chuhai” in Chinese – in search of new growth opportunities.

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s retail sales rise 5.5% in January as tourists loosen purse strings

Census and Statistics Department says retail sales for January worth HK$37.3 billion, marking ninth straight month of growth since May 2025.

Hong Kong property

McDonald’s sells Hong Kong shop outside disposal plan for US$11.9 million

Latest sale of Hong Kong restaurant site by the Chicago-based food chain reflects a retail valuation reset as rents stay subdued.

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McDonald’s Hong Kong announced that from January 1, the average salary increase for restaurant management groups will be 3 per cent. However, the company is also selling off restaurants across Hong Kong as the retail property sector remains under pressure. Photo: Sam Tsang
Smartphones

Will Apple’s low-cost iPhone 17e make a splash in China’s smartphone market?

Presales for the new entry-level iPhone start on Wednesday, with a wide release set for March 11.

Apple’s new iPhone 17e model comes in black, white and soft pink colours. Photo: Handout
Two Sessions 2026

Chinese officials, car executives may discuss capping EV output

As China’s EV industry faces slowing growth, officials may discuss capping output and boosting tech innovation to combat price wars.

Retailing

Warm winter no match: China’s sportswear sector posts surprise growth

Policy support, Chinese New Year demand and Winter Olympics exposure lift China’s sportswear makers, with Li Ning and Anta leading gains.

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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A vendor sits at the doorway to her store in Beijing on February 18. China’s leadership is pivoting towards people-centric, consumption-led economic growth. Photo: Getty Images
Pop Mart

Pop Mart’s Merodi Hong Kong debut highlights challenges of sustaining IP success

Toymaker’s latest character launch draws tepid demand, raising questions about the company’s reliance on Labubu’s success.

The Merodi After School series features a mischievous little girl with the magical ability to talk to animals. Photo: Handout
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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US-China relations

Immigration slows, but America’s appetite for ethnic groceries keeps growing

Weee, now topping $1 billion in annualized revenue, says demand for Asian and Latino foods is spreading well beyond immigrant communities.

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