The 0.6 percent year-on-year drop in May, revealed by the National Bureau of Statistics, was a big miss compared with the 0.2 percent forecast in a Bloomberg survey

China's April retail sales grew just 0.2% YoY, the weakest since December 2022, as HSBC slashes its 2026 forecast and GDP growth projections fall.

China's total retail sales of consumer goods, a key indicator of the country's consumption strength, rose 1.4 percent year-on-year to 20.6 trillion yuan ($3.05 trillion) in the…

Customers buy vegetables at a supermarket in Wuchang district of Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, June 10, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

May figure misses expectations as fading stimulus, property slump stifle demand

Despite a surge in exports, China’s economy remained under pressure in May, with the first monthly decline in retail sales since late 2022.

Despite surge in exports, the economy remained under pressure in May, with first decline in retail sales seen since end of Covid lockdown in late 2022.

Despite surge in exports, the economy remained under pressure in May, with first decline in retail sales since end of Covid lockdown in late 2022.

China's retail sales fell for the first time in more than three years in May, while urban investment contracted more than expected, adding to signs the economic slump deepened.

China's retail sales grew just 0.2% in April 2026, the weakest since December 2022. May data may show the first contraction since COVID lockdowns ended.

Weak retail sales data puts pressure on the government to consider policy measures to stabilise consumption. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Even the five-day Labour Day holiday failed to lift consumer spending. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

China's economy shows a worrying split in May. While factories are humming with strong exports, consumer spending took a hit, with retail sales falling for the first time in over…

China's retail sales fell last month for the first time in more than three years, data showed on June 16, as leaders of the world's second-largest economy struggle to kickstart…

China's economy faces deepening imbalances as retail sales fall for the first time in over three years amid weak demand.

China's retail sales fell 0.6% in May 2026, the first decline since December 2022, as fixed-asset investment posted its steepest drop in nearly 30 years.

Retail sales fell 0.6 per cent last month from a year ago, a worse-than-forecast drop that was their first drop since the reopening from COVID-19 lockdowns.

China's economy displayed increasing unevenness in May, with retail sales declining for the first time in over three years and investment weakening...

China's retail sales fell 0.6% in May 2026, the first decline since December 2022, as auto and appliance spending cratered by double digits.

The 0.6 percent year-on-year drop in May, revealed by the National Bureau of Statistics, was a big miss compared with the 0.2 percent forecast in a Bloomberg survey

China's retail sales fell for the first time in over three years and slid 0.6% in May, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday (June 16), which was the…