China’s retail sales rose 1.1% year-on-year in September 2026, picking up from a 0.4% increase in August and above the expected 0.5% gain. This marked the strongest rise since March. Growth was supported by a 31.1% surge in communication equipment sales, alongside increases in tobacco and alcohol (+13.8%), food products (+6.7%), and cosmetics (+5.4%). However, automobile sales plunged 21.2%, while gold and silver jewelry (-9.6%) and building materials (-9.2%) also declined. Excluding automobiles, retail sales grew 3.9%. Catering revenue increased 2.1%, while goods sales rose 1.0%. Online retail sales of goods advanced 3.8% year-on-year in the first nine months of the year, while total online retail sales of goods and services grew 4.4%. On a monthly basis, retail trade increased 0.4%, following a 0.2% decline in August. From January to September, retail sales increased 1.1% year-on-year, while sales excluding automobiles rose 2.8%. source: National Bureau of Statistics of China

Retail Sales in China increased 1.10 percent in September of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in China averaged 11.76 percent from 1993 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 37.40 percent in December of 1993 and a record low of -20.50 percent in January of 2020. This page provides - China Retail Sales YoY - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. China Retail Sales YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on November of 2026.

Retail Sales in China increased 1.10 percent in September of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in China is expected to be 1.30 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the China Retail Sales YoY is projected to trend around 2.50 percent in 2027 and 2.00 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-09-15 02:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Aug 0.4% 0.6% 0.8% 1.0%
2026-10-19 02:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Sep 1.1% 0.4% 0.5% 1%
2026-11-16 02:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Oct 1.1%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Confidence 89.20 89.40 points Jul 2026
Consumer Spending 561234.70 538828.20 CNY Hundred Million Dec 2025
Disposable Personal Income 56502.00 54188.00 CNY Dec 2025
Gasoline Prices 1.21 1.22 USD/Liter Oct 2026
Retail Sales MoM 0.35 -0.16 percent Sep 2026
Retail Sales YoY 1.10 0.40 percent Sep 2026


China Retail Sales YoY
In China, the year-over-year change in Retail sales compares the aggregated sales of retail goods and services during a certain month to the same month a year ago.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
1.10 0.40 37.40 -20.50 1993 - 2026 percent Monthly
Current Prices, NSA

News Stream
China Retail Sales Strongest in 6 Months
China’s retail sales rose 1.1% year-on-year in September 2026, picking up from a 0.4% increase in August and above the expected 0.5% gain. This marked the strongest rise since March. Growth was supported by a 31.1% surge in communication equipment sales, alongside increases in tobacco and alcohol (+13.8%), food products (+6.7%), and cosmetics (+5.4%). However, automobile sales plunged 21.2%, while gold and silver jewelry (-9.6%) and building materials (-9.2%) also declined. Excluding automobiles, retail sales grew 3.9%. Catering revenue increased 2.1%, while goods sales rose 1.0%. Online retail sales of goods advanced 3.8% year-on-year in the first nine months of the year, while total online retail sales of goods and services grew 4.4%. On a monthly basis, retail trade increased 0.4%, following a 0.2% decline in August. From January to September, retail sales increased 1.1% year-on-year, while sales excluding automobiles rose 2.8%.
2026-10-19
China Retail Sales Miss Expectations
China’s retail sales rose 0.4% year-on-year in August 2026, slowing from a 0.6% gain in July and falling short of market expectations of a 0.8% increase. Big-ticket automobile sales continued to decline, falling 18.5%, while furniture (-7.9%), building materials (-11.8%), and gold and silver jewelry sales (-17.5%) also dropped. Excluding automobiles, retail sales grew 2.5%. Meanwhile, communication equipment sales surged 27.3%, alongside strong gains in tobacco and alcohol (+12.5%), cultural and office supplies (+5.8%), and cosmetics (+4.9%). By segment, catering revenue increased 1.1%, while goods sales rose 0.3%. Online retail sales of goods advanced 4.3% in the first eight months of the year. On a monthly basis, retail sales fell 0.13% in August after edging up 0.01% in the previous period. From January to August, retail sales increased 1.1% year-on-year, while sales excluding automobiles rose 2.7%.
2026-09-15
China Retail Sales Growth Unexpectedly Slows
China’s retail sales rose 0.6% year-on-year in July 2026, slowing from 1% growth in June and falling well short of expectations for a 1.5% increase. Weak big-ticket spending continued to weigh on consumption, with automobile sales plunging 17.0%. Excluding automobiles, retail sales rose 2.5%. Sales also declined for petroleum products (-7.6%), furniture (-8.8%), and building materials (-14.2%). In contrast, communication equipment sales jumped 20.4%, while tobacco and alcohol rose 6.0%, cosmetics increased 6.8%, and food products gained 5.3%. By segment, catering revenue increased 1.4%, while retail sales of goods rose 0.5%. Online retail sales of goods increased 4.6% in the first seven months. On a monthly basis, retail sales rose 0.06%, following a 0.35% gain in the previous period. From January to July, total retail sales rose 1.2%, while sales excluding automobiles increased 2.7%.
2026-08-17