Core Insights - The overall consumption market in China remained stable in September 2023, with significant contributions from various sectors and initiatives aimed at boosting consumer spending [1][2]. Group 1: Consumption Market Performance - In September, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 4.20 trillion yuan, showing a year-on-year growth of 3.0%. For the first three quarters, the total retail sales amounted to 36.59 trillion yuan, with a growth rate of 4.5%, which is 1.0 percentage point faster than the entire previous year [1]. - Per capita consumption expenditure for residents was 21,600 yuan, reflecting a growth of 4.6%. The contribution rate of final consumption expenditure to economic growth was 53.5% [1]. Group 2: Trade-in Programs and Retail Growth - The trade-in program for consumer goods continued to show positive results, with retail sales of related goods increasing by 3.3% in September. Notably, retail sales of communication equipment, furniture, and cultural office supplies from large enterprises grew by 16.2%, 16.2%, and 6.2%, respectively [2]. - The retail volume of passenger cars reached 2.241 million units, marking a growth of 6.3%. As of October 22, 2023, applications for the 2025 automobile trade-in subsidy exceeded 10 million [1]. Group 3: Service Consumption Trends - Service retail sales grew by 5.2% in the first three quarters, outpacing the growth of goods retail sales by 0.6 percentage points. Sectors such as cultural and recreational services, communication services, tourism consulting, and transportation services experienced double-digit growth [2]. - The proportion of residents' service consumption expenditure accounted for 46.8% of total consumption expenditure [2]. Group 4: Emerging Consumption Trends - New types of consumption, including smart and green products, continued to expand. In September, sales of smart wearable devices and robotic vacuum cleaners increased by over 15%, while sales of energy-efficient dishwashers and organic food grew by more than 10% [2]. - The retail volume of new energy passenger vehicles reached 1.296 million units, with a growth of 15.5% and a penetration rate of 57.8% [2]. Group 5: Inbound Consumption Growth - The scale of inbound consumption has been expanding, supported by policies such as the expansion of visa-free entry and optimized tax refund processes. The popularity of "China tours" and "China shopping" continues to rise [2]. - According to the National Immigration Administration, the number of inbound and outbound foreign visitors reached 20.134 million in the third quarter, a growth of 22.3%. Among them, visa-free foreign visitors numbered 7.246 million, increasing by 48.3% [2].

Core Insights - The consumption market in China is showing steady growth, with significant contributions from various sectors and initiatives aimed at boosting consumer spending [1][2] Group 1: Overall Consumption Trends - In September, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 4.20 trillion yuan, marking a year-on-year growth of 3.0% [1] - For the first three quarters, the total retail sales amounted to 36.59 trillion yuan, with a growth rate of 4.5%, which is 1.0 percentage point faster than the entire previous year [1] - Per capita consumer spending reached 21,600 yuan, reflecting a growth of 4.6% [1] - The contribution rate of final consumption expenditure to economic growth stood at 53.5% [1] Group 2: Replacement Consumption - The retail sales of goods increased by 3.3% in September, with significant growth in sales related to the "old for new" consumption initiative [2] - Retail sales of communication equipment, furniture, and cultural office supplies saw increases of 16.2%, 16.2%, and 6.2% respectively [2] - Passenger car retail sales reached 2.241 million units, growing by 6.3% [2] - As of October 22, 2025, applications for the automobile replacement subsidy exceeded 10 million [2] Group 3: Service Consumption - Service retail sales grew by 5.2% in the first three quarters, outpacing goods retail sales by 0.6 percentage points [2] - Sectors such as cultural and recreational services, communication services, tourism consulting, and transportation services experienced double-digit growth [2] - Service consumption accounted for 46.8% of total household consumption expenditure [2] Group 4: New Consumption Trends - New types of consumption, including smart and green products, are expanding rapidly [2] - In September, sales of smart wearable devices and robotic vacuum cleaners increased by over 15%, while sales of energy-saving dishwashers and organic food grew by more than 10% [2] - Retail sales of new energy passenger vehicles reached 1.296 million units, growing by 15.5%, with a penetration rate of 57.8% [2] Group 5: Inbound Consumption - The scale of inbound consumption is expanding, supported by policies such as expanding visa-free entry and optimizing tax refund processes [2] - In the third quarter, the number of foreign visitors entering and exiting China reached 20.134 million, a growth of 22.3% [2] - Among these, the number of visa-free foreign visitors was 7.246 million, marking a growth of 48.3% [2]

Core Insights - The consumption market in China has shown stable performance in September, with a notable increase in retail sales and consumer spending [1] Group 1: Consumption Market Performance - In September, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 4.20 trillion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 3.0% [1] - For the first three quarters, the total retail sales amounted to 36.59 trillion yuan, with a growth rate of 4.5%, accelerating by 1.0 percentage points compared to the previous year [1] - Per capita consumer spending reached 21,600 yuan, marking a growth of 4.6% [1] - The contribution rate of final consumption expenditure to economic growth was 53.5% [1] Group 2: Trade-in Programs and Service Consumption - The trade-in program for consumer goods has shown significant results, with retail sales of related products growing rapidly [1] - In September, retail sales of goods increased by 3.3%, with notable growth in communication equipment, furniture, and cultural office supplies, each growing by 16.2% and 6.2% respectively [1] - Passenger car retail sales reached 2.241 million units, growing by 6.3% [1] - As of October 22, applications for the 2025 automobile trade-in subsidy exceeded 10 million [1] - Service retail sales grew by 5.2% in the first three quarters, outpacing goods retail sales by 0.6 percentage points [1] Group 3: Emerging Consumption Trends - New types of consumption, such as smart and green products, are expanding, with sales of smart wearable devices and robotic vacuum cleaners increasing by over 15% [1] - Sales of energy-saving dishwashers and organic food grew by more than 10% [1] - Retail sales of new energy passenger vehicles reached 1.296 million units, growing by 15.5%, with a penetration rate of 57.8% [1] Group 4: Inbound Consumption Growth - The scale of inbound consumption is continuously expanding, supported by policies like expanding visa-free entry and optimizing tax refunds for outbound travelers [1] - In the third quarter, the number of foreign visitors entering and exiting China reached 20.134 million, a growth of 22.3%, with visa-free entrants increasing by 48.3% to 7.246 million [1]

Core Viewpoint - China aims to enhance its international consumption environment by selecting around 15 pilot cities for development, with a focus on attracting inbound consumption and improving the overall consumer experience [2][11]. Group 1: Pilot Cities and Funding - The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce have announced the selection of approximately 15 pilot cities to develop an international consumption environment, with central government financial support [2][11]. - The five existing international consumption center cities—Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Chongqing—will receive a total subsidy of 200 million yuan each, while other eligible cities will receive 100 million yuan each [4][11]. Group 2: Key Focus Areas for Development - The construction of an international consumption environment will focus on enhancing high-quality consumption supply, optimizing foreign payment services, and improving international service levels [5][10]. - Specific measures include increasing the number of foreign card POS machines, establishing foreign currency exchange facilities, and enhancing multilingual signage and services in key areas [5][8]. Group 3: Addressing Shortcomings - The initiative emphasizes identifying and addressing gaps in the current consumption environment, such as the need for more foreign currency exchange points and foreign card payment options [8][10]. - The performance indicators for the initiative include the number of new foreign card POS machines and foreign currency exchange points established in key commercial areas and tourist attractions [8][12]. Group 4: Policy Integration and Effectiveness - The new measures will complement existing policies aimed at expanding inbound consumption, focusing on both hardware improvements and the development of a supportive soft environment [11][12]. - The initiative aims to create a more attractive international consumption destination by integrating local and international brands, enhancing service quality, and improving the overall consumer experience [12][13].

Core Insights - The article discusses the significant growth in inbound tourism consumption in China, particularly in cities like Shanghai, which has seen a 140% increase in tax refund applications compared to the previous year [4][6] - The Chinese government is initiating a project to build an international consumption environment in approximately 15 pilot cities, with a focus on enhancing the shopping experience for foreign tourists [6][8] Group 1: Inbound Tourism Growth - Shanghai Customs processed 64,000 tax refund applications in the first half of the year, a substantial increase of 140% year-on-year, indicating a strong recovery in inbound tourism [4] - The total sales amount for tax refunds in the first half of the year grew by 94.6% year-on-year, with souvenirs, trendy items, and tech products being popular among foreign tourists [6] Group 2: International Consumption Environment - The initiative to create an international consumption environment will focus on major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Chongqing, which are already recognized as international consumption centers [8][9] - Each international consumption center city will receive a subsidy of 200 million yuan, while other eligible cities will receive 100 million yuan to support the development of this environment [8] Group 3: Key Measures and Implementation - The plan includes enhancing high-quality consumption supply, optimizing foreign payment services, and improving international service levels, such as multilingual signage and luggage storage facilities [9][10] - The initiative aims to address the needs of foreign tourists, such as the availability of foreign currency exchange points and foreign card POS machines, to facilitate smoother transactions [12][13] Group 4: Policy and Performance Metrics - The performance metrics for the initiative will include the number of new foreign card POS machines and currency exchange points, which are critical for improving the international consumption environment [12][16] - The government emphasizes the importance of aligning funding with performance outcomes, ensuring that financial support is contingent on the successful implementation of the initiative [16]

Core Viewpoint - The article focuses on the rapid growth of inbound consumption in China, driven by policies such as expanding visa-free access and optimizing tax refund processes, with an expected growth rate of over 40% this year, potentially boosting total retail sales by approximately 0.2 percentage points [2][4]. Group 1: Inbound Consumption Recovery - In 2024, inbound consumption is projected to recover to about 90% of 2019 levels, with inbound tourists expected to reach 132 million and total spending at $94.2 billion, which corresponds to 97.2% and 93.5% of 2019 levels respectively [4][12]. - The average spending per inbound tourist in 2024 is anticipated to be $714, slightly higher than $646 in 2023 but lower than $742 in 2019 [13]. - Major cities like Beijing are expected to exceed 2019 levels in inbound tourist numbers, while Shanghai and Shenzhen are projected to recover to over 80% of 2019 levels [13][14]. Group 2: Reasons for Growth - One key reason for the high growth in inbound consumption is policy support, including the expansion of visa-free access to 47 countries and mutual visa exemptions with 29 countries, resulting in a 14.9% increase in inbound travelers [5][20]. - The optimization of tax refund standards, such as lowering the minimum refund threshold to 200 RMB and promoting "immediate refund" services, has led to a 97.5% increase in sales of tax-refunded goods [5][22]. - Additional measures to facilitate inbound consumption include improved visa policies and services for foreign visitors, with cities like Beijing implementing innovative refund service models [5][22]. Group 3: Impact of Inbound Consumption - The expected increase in inbound consumption this year is estimated to add approximately 263.8 billion RMB to total retail sales, contributing about 0.2 percentage points to the overall retail sales growth [6][24]. - The combination of high consumption and low investment from foreign entities is seen as beneficial for restoring economic balance, with foreign investment declining by 15.4% while consumption grew by 6.9% [6][24]. - There remains significant potential for growth in inbound consumption, with its contribution to GDP currently at about 0.5%, compared to 1% to 3% in major global economies [7][24].

Group 1: Inbound Consumption Growth - Inbound consumption is expected to grow by over 40% this year, contributing approximately 0.2 percentage points to the annual retail sales growth[1] - By 2024, inbound tourists are projected to reach 132 million, with total spending of $94.2 billion, recovering to 97.2% and 93.5% of 2019 levels respectively[1] - The average spending per inbound tourist in 2024 is estimated at $714, slightly below the 2019 figure of $742[1] Group 2: Policy Support and Impact - The expansion of visa-free access has increased the number of countries with unilateral visa exemptions to 47, leading to a 52.1% increase in visa-free inbound tourists[3] - The optimization of tax refund policies has resulted in a 97.5% increase in sales of tax-refunded goods, with the number of beneficiaries rising 2.5 times[3] - The expected increase in inbound consumption this year is estimated at around 263.8 billion RMB, which is about 0.2 percentage points of the total retail sales[4] Group 3: Future Projections - In 2025, inbound tourist numbers and total spending are likely to see double-digit growth, surpassing 2019 levels[2] - The inbound consumption's share of GDP is projected to be around 0.5% in 2024, compared to 1% to 3% in major global economies, indicating significant growth potential[4]

Core Insights - Qingdao is becoming a popular destination for inbound consumption, driven by policies such as visa-free travel and optimized tax refund processes for foreign tourists [1][4] - The city has seen a significant increase in international consumer engagement, with a notable rise in the number of tax refund stores and foreign visitors [1][2] Group 1: Inbound Consumption Growth - Qingdao has added 42 new tax refund stores this year, more than doubling the previous count, which is attracting international consumers [1] - The city received 442,000 foreign visitors in the first nine months of the year, marking a 43.5% year-on-year increase [4] Group 2: Consumer Preferences and Trends - Foreign tourists are increasingly purchasing local products such as Tsingtao beer, with the Tsingtao Beer Museum seeing a 130% increase in foreign visitors during the recent holiday period [3] - High-end shopping areas like Hisense Plaza are attracting international customers, particularly from South Korea, due to the availability of rare and limited products [2] Group 3: Enhanced Consumer Experience - The city is improving service experiences for foreign visitors by providing multilingual signage and services, making it easier for them to navigate and enjoy their time in Qingdao [4] - Payment services are being optimized, with several malls, including Hisense Plaza, becoming payment-friendly for foreign tourists, allowing them to use their preferred electronic wallets [4][5]

央视网消息：近日，商务部等九部门联合印发的《关于扩大服务消费的若干政策措施》落地实施，带动入境消费、边境旅游与服务型消费 协同升温。 据统计，今年1至8月，外国人入境5126.8万人次、同比上升27.8%。我国服务零售额同比增长5.1%。数字消费、绿色消费、健康消费等新 型消费持续壮大，入境消费持续扩大。截至8月底，全国离境退税商店数量突破1万家，前8个月退税商品销售额同比增长97.5%，享受退税人 数同比增长2.5倍。 今年以来，入境免签等政策红利叠加消费场景创新，激发境外游客"中国游"与"中国购"双重热潮。 在新疆，中哈霍尔果斯国际边境合作中心边境游、跨境游、购物游成为入境消费"新通道"， 7月以来，日均进出人员超3万人次。乌鲁木 齐天山机场前8个月进出境旅客62.3万人次，同比增长69.5%，其中以旅游观光为目的的旅客占比达40%。海关推出的"即买即退"等退税便利举 措，进一步激发了入境旅客消费活力，共办理离境退税371票，涉及金额527.94万元。 新疆、内蒙古等地的实践表明，服务消费的提质扩容不仅能激活本地经济，更能成为吸引国际游客、提升国家形象、反哺外贸出口的"软 实力引擎"。 政策赋能消费新引擎 ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the continuous release of favorable policies to boost inbound consumption in China, particularly through the development of international consumption center cities and supportive measures from various government departments [1][4]. Group 1: Policy Initiatives - The Chinese government plans to deepen the construction of international consumption center cities, create international consumption clusters, and optimize payment services to enhance the inbound consumption environment [1][4]. - New measures will be introduced by the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Finance to support inbound consumption, aiming to promote "China Travel" and "China Shopping" [1][4]. Group 2: Market Performance - Data from Beijing Customs indicates a significant increase in tax refund applications, with a 223.98% year-on-year growth in applications and a 92.77% increase in total refund amounts from January to August this year [2][3]. - The number of tax refund stores nationwide has exceeded 10,000, tripling the target set for the end of 2024, with a 248% increase in the number of people enjoying tax refunds [3]. Group 3: Future Trends - Experts predict that inbound consumption will evolve from a focus on shopping to a more integrated approach combining travel, culture, and sports, with a shift in consumer preferences towards domestic products and unique services [7]. - The inbound consumption market is expected to diversify, with new characteristics such as varied source markets, individualized travel, and a growing influence of cultural factors, enhancing the appeal of products and services infused with Chinese cultural elements [7].