China retail sales up 4.3%, industry maintains strong 2025 momentum

China’s retail and industrial indicators for the first 10 months of 2025 signalled steady economic recovery, with consumption and high-tech manufacturing showing notable strength, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Retail sales of consumer goods rose 4.3 per cent year on year (YoY) to ¥41.2169 trillion (~$5.82 trillion). Online retail sales reached ¥12,791.6 billion, up 9.6 per cent, with physical goods contributing ¥10,398.4 billion, accounting for 25.2 per cent of total retail sales.

In October alone, retail sales grew 2.9 per cent YoY to ¥4,629.1 billion. Urban retail sales rose 2.7 per cent, while rural consumption expanded 4.1 per cent, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a release.

Industrial activity also gained traction. The total value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased 4.9 per cent YoY in October and 0.17 per cent month on month (MoM).

For January–October, industrial value added grew 6.1 per cent YoY. Industrial enterprises earned profits of ¥5,373.2 billion in the first nine months, up 3.2 per cent YoY. October’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index stood at 49 per cent, while the Production and Operation Expectation Index reached 52.8 per cent, indicating continued optimism among manufacturers despite short-term pressures.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (HU)