Financial News: China Retail Sales Decline For First Time Since

China Retail Sales Decline For First Time Since 2022

06/16/2026 - 03:21:00 (RTTNews)

(RTTNews) - China's retail sales declined for the first time since 2022 on subdued domestic demand, and fixed asset investment logged a sharper-than-expected fall, while industrial production remained a bright spot, official data revealed Tuesday.

Retail sales decreased 0.6 percent from a year ago in May, the National Bureau of Statistics reported. This marked a reversal from the 0.2 percent increase in April and sharper the expected 0.3 percent decline.

Meanwhile, annual growth in industrial production accelerated more than forecast to 4.5 percent from 4.1 percent in April. Production was forecast to grow 4.4 percent.

During January to May period, fixed asset investment declined 4.1 percent from the same period last year, bigger than the expected decrease of 2.3 percent. At the same time, property investment plunged 16.2 percent.

In May, the urban unemployment rate posted 5.1 percent compared to 5.2 percent in the prior month.

Disappointing retail sales data came as Beijing targets domestic demand as a growth engine, shifting away from export-driven growth.

ING economist Lynn Song said today's domestic data could add to pressure on government for fresh stimulus. Song said it remains too early to confidently call a bottom for the property market, as prices continue to decline, and inventory levels remain high. The property sector will remain a major drag on growth for some time.

Despite internal headwinds, robust exports are keeping overall growth on track, allowing policymakers to delay stimulus and tolerate a two-speed economy for now, Commerzbank Senior Economist Henry Hao, said.

In the first quarter, the economy expanded at a faster pace of 5.0 percent after rising 4.5 percent in the preceding period. The government aims to achieve 4.5-5.0 percent GDP growth this year.

The International Monetary Fund forecast China's economy to grow 4.4 percent this year and 4.0 percent in 2027.

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

Market News provided by RTTNews

RECENT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL NEWS

Thirty-Year Bond Auction Attracts Average Demand (02 hr(s), 23 min(s), 51 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - The Treasury Department finished off this week's series of announcements of the re ...Full Story»

U.S. Producer Prices Unexpectedly Flat In July, Annual Growth Slows To 4.7% (05 hr(s), 19 min(s), 51 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - A report released by the Labor Department on Thursday showed producer prices in the U. ...Full Story»

U.S. Jobless Claims Climb More Than Expected To 209,000 (05 hr(s), 45 min(s), 51 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - First-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits climbed by more than expected in the ...Full Story»

Turkey Current Account Gap Widens In June (06 hr(s), 36 min(s), 51 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Turkey's current account deficit increased in June from the previous year, accordi ...Full Story»

U.S. Producer Prices Unexpectedly Unchanged In July (06 hr(s), 54 min(s), 51 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - A report released by the Labor Department on Thursday showed producer prices in the U. ...Full Story»

U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Climb More Than Expected (06 hr(s), 57 min(s), 51 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - First-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits climbed by more than expected in the ...Full Story»

Croatia Producer Price Inflation Eases To 4.9% (08 hr(s), 05 min(s), 51 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Croatia's producer price inflation eased for the second straight month in July, fi ...Full Story»

Norway Keeps Key Interest Rate Unchanged (08 hr(s), 29 min(s), 51 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Norges Bank left its key interest rate unchanged on Thursday but kept the door open fo ...Full Story»