BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's retail sales strengthened in the first three quarters of 2026, with retail sales of services growing faster than sales of goods and new forms of consumption continuing to emerge, official data showed on Monday.
The country's total retail sales of goods and services, a major indicator of consumption spending, rose 2.6 percent year on year in the January-September period, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
In September, total retail sales of consumer goods, which cover sales of physical goods and revenue from catering services, grew at the fastest pace in six months, rising 1.1 percent year on year and 0.7 percentage points faster than in August, the data showed.
Final consumption expenditure contributed 46.7 percent of overall economic growth in the first three quarters, up 0.7 percentage points from the first half of the year.
Consumption is a key driver of economic growth and a tangible reflection of people's pursuit of a better life, said Wang Guanhua, an NBS spokesperson, noting that with consumption-boosting policies implemented this year, consumption has effectively played its foundational role in economic growth.
Spending on services has become an increasingly important driver of consumption growth, Wang said. Retail sales of services grew 5 percent year on year in the first three quarters, 4 percentage points faster than sales of goods.
In terms of services consumption, the categories of communication and information services, tourism consulting and leasing services, and cultural, sports and leisure services posted rapid growth, the NBS data showed.
Cultural and tourism activities such as study tours, intangible cultural heritage experiences, and exhibitions and sporting events flourished, while immersive and experiential consumption gained popularity, Wang said.
Goods consumption is shifting toward newer, higher-quality and greener products, she said. In the first three quarters, retail sales of energy-efficient home appliances grew more than 20 percent, and retail sales of new energy passenger vehicles topped 7.7 million units.
Online retail sales of goods and services exceeded 15.1 trillion yuan, up 4.4 percent year on year. Of the total, online sales of goods rose 3.8 percent, while online sales of services increased 5.3 percent.
Wang said online shopping formats were expanding and online supply was becoming more diverse, with instant retail maintaining double-digit growth and brick-and-mortar retail shifting toward one-stop, experiential and high-quality formats.
As rural supermarkets and logistics improve, consumption potential in county-level markets continues to be unlocked, Wang said. Retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas rose 0.9 percent in the first three quarters, compared with a 2.3 percent increase in rural areas.
Inbound consumption is also expanding as travel to China becomes more convenient, Wang said. In the first eight months, visa-free foreign arrivals rose 26.8 percent year on year, while departure tax refund applications and refund amounts grew rapidly in many places.
In July, China released its first five-year plan dedicated exclusively to expanding consumption. The plan aims to unlock the full potential of the country's super-large market, optimize the consumption structure, and improve people's livelihoods through targeted measures.
Looking ahead, Wang said China's consumer market is expected to further unlock its potential, supported by sustained economic development, rising living standards, improved supply of goods and services, and the emergence of new business forms and consumption scenarios. ■
