China’s retail sales growth slowed sharply in July 2026, underscoring renewed strain on consumer demand in the world’s second-largest economy.
Year-over-year retail sales rose 0.6% in July, down from a 1.0% increase in June 2026. Both figures compare activity in each month to the same month a year earlier, pointing to a clear loss of momentum in household spending as the summer progressed.
The latest data, updated on 17 August 2026, will likely reinforce concerns about the strength and durability of China’s consumption-led recovery, with July’s weaker reading suggesting that domestic demand remains fragile despite earlier signs of stabilization.
