Core Insights - The report indicates that China's fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market saw a year-on-year sales growth of 1.3% in the first three quarters, driven primarily by a 3.8% increase in sales volume, despite a 2.4% decline in average prices [1][2] Market Performance - The FMCG market experienced a notable recovery in Q1 with a 2.7% year-on-year sales growth, while growth slowed to 0.7% and 0.4% in Q2 and Q3 respectively [1] - The report highlights that third to fifth-tier cities contributed approximately 80% to the overall growth of the FMCG market, driven by urbanization, stable local consumption, and accelerated market penetration by brands and retailers [1] Category Analysis - The FMCG market is segmented into four categories: packaged food, beverages, personal care, and home care. All categories except beverages saw sales growth, with packaged food growing by 3.4%, personal care by 1.1%, and home care by 3.3% [2] - Beverage prices fell by 4.6% year-on-year, attributed to intensified brand competition and the impact of emerging channels [2] - Among 27 subcategories, 19 faced downward price pressure, particularly in personal and home care, while premium products in categories like chocolate and baby formula showed price recovery [2] Channel Dynamics - Offline discount stores, snack shops, and warehouse membership stores saw significant sales growth of 92%, 51%, and 40% respectively, with their market shares increasing [3] - The e-commerce landscape is evolving, with Taobao/Tmall's market share decreasing to 28%, while Douyin's share increased to 26% [3] - Instant retail channels reversed last year's decline with a 7.9% growth in Q3, benefiting from the popularity of delivery services [3] Retail Trends - Three major trends in retail channels are identified: increasing convenience for quick access to products, a shift towards discount-oriented formats, and the evolution of retail brands into collaborative partners with product creators [4]