China's consumer spending grows at faster pace on policy support

政策支持下中国消费支出增速加快

China's State Council Information Office (SCIO) holds a press conference on China's economic performance in May, in Beijing, capital of China, June 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)

中国国务院新闻办公室（SCIO）于2025年6月16日在中国首都北京举行关于中5月份经济运行表现的新闻发布会。（新华社/潘旭 摄）

BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- China's consumer spending in May posted its strongest growth in nearly one and a half years, as the country's supportive policies helped boost consumption and economic activity.

北京，6月16日（新华社）-由于国家的扶持政策有助于提振消费和经济活动，中国5月份的消费者支出实现了近一年半以来最强劲的增长。

The retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of China's consumption strength, grew 6.4 percent year on year in May, accelerating from a rise of 5.1 percent registered in April and marking the fastest growth since December 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

国家统计局数据显示，作为中国消费实力主要指标之一的社会消费品零售额，5月份同比增长6.4%，增速较4月份的5.1%有所加快，创下2023年12月以来最快增长速度（国家统计局）。

From January to May, the retail sales of consumer goods rose 5 percent year on year, also accelerating from the 4.7 percent growth in the first four months, according to the NBS.

根据国家统计局的数据显示，从1月到5月，消费品零售额同比增长5%，也比前四个月4.7%的增长有所加快。

Factors supporting consumption growth in May included the government's consumer goods trade-in program, the "618" shopping festival that began in May this year, and the expansion of the country's visa-free entry policy, NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui told a press conference on Monday.

国家统计局发言人付凌晖在周一的新闻发布会上表示，支持5月份消费增长的因素包括政府的消费品以旧换新计划、今年5月启动的“618”购物节以及国家免签入境政策的扩大。

The combined retail sales of consumer goods related to trade-ins grew rapidly. In breakdown, sales of household appliances, audio-visual equipment, communication devices, cultural and office supplies and furniture surged by as much as 53 percent year on year in May, contributing 1.9 percentage points to the overall increase in total retail sales of consumer goods, Fu noted.

以旧换新相关社会消费品零售额增长迅速。付凌晖指出，从具体来看，5月份家用电器、音像设备、通信设备器材、文化办公用品和家具的销售额同比增长高达53%，对社会消费品零售总额的整体增长贡献了1.9个百分点。

The country's online retail sales maintained solid growth, with that of physical goods expanding 6.3 percent year on year during the first five months, accounting for 24.5 percent of the total retail sales.

全国网上零售额保持稳健增长，前5个月实物商品同比增长6.3%，占零售总额的24.5%。

Fu said that China's economy has maintained steady momentum, with the consumption market showing increased vitality as the benefits of the consumer goods trade-in program continue to take effect.

付凌晖表示，中国经济保持稳定的发展势头，随着消费品以旧换新计划的成效持续落地显现，消费市场展现出更强大的活力。

China's economy grew by 5.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, up from the 5 percent full-year growth rate recorded in 2024. Economic data for the second quarter and the first half of the year is scheduled to be released on July 15.

2025年第一季度中国经济同比增长5.4%，高于2024年全年的5%的增长率。第二季度和上半年经济数据定于7月15日公布。

Monday's data also showed that China's industrial production and fixed-asset investment maintained steady growth from January to May, while the pace of home price declines in major cities continued to ease in May.

周一的数据还显示，1-5月，中国工业生产和固定资产投资保持稳定增长，同时，5月主要城市房价下跌的幅度持续收窄。

Looking ahead, Fu said he expects new drivers of growth to emerge in China's consumption sector, but emphasized that further efforts are needed to strengthen consumers' purchasing power and confidence.

展望未来，付凌晖表示，他预计中国消费领域将出现新的增长动力，但强调需要进一步努力增强消费者的购买力和信心。