China’s consumer sector showed a marked loss of momentum in April 2026, as retail sales growth slowed sharply to 0.2% year-on-year, down from 1.7% in March. The latest figures, updated on 18 May 2026, underscore mounting pressure on domestic demand in the world’s second-largest economy.
The data, measured on a year-over-year basis, compare April 2026 retail sales with those of April 2025. The abrupt deceleration from March’s performance—also calculated against the same month a year earlier—suggests that earlier signs of a modest consumer recovery are fading.
The near-flat growth in April raises fresh concerns about the strength and durability of China’s consumption-led rebound and will likely intensify focus on potential policy support aimed at bolstering household spending in the months ahead.
