Core Insights - The cultural industry in China achieved a revenue of 71,292 billion yuan in the first half of the year, marking a 7.4% increase compared to the same period last year [1] Revenue Growth by Sector - The content creation, creative design services, and news information services sectors experienced double-digit revenue growth, with increases of 11.8%, 11.8%, and 10.8% respectively [1] Contribution of Cultural Services - The cultural services sector generated a revenue of 39,218 billion yuan, reflecting a 10.7% growth year-on-year. This sector accounted for 55.0% of the total revenue of large-scale cultural enterprises, an increase of 1.6 percentage points from the previous year, contributing 77.0% to the overall revenue growth of large-scale cultural enterprises [1] Rapid Development of New Cultural Formats - Sixteen sub-sectors characterized by new cultural formats achieved a revenue of 31,564 billion yuan, representing a 13.6% increase year-on-year, which is 6.2 percentage points higher than the overall growth of large-scale cultural enterprises. These new formats contributed 76.8% to the revenue growth of large-scale cultural enterprises [1] Profitability Improvement - Large-scale cultural enterprises reported a total profit of 6,298 billion yuan, which is a 19.3% increase compared to the same period last year [1]

Core Viewpoint - The rise of "emotional consumption" among young consumers is driving the demand for innovative products that alleviate anxiety and provide emotional companionship, leading to a vibrant new market segment [1][10]. Group 1: Market Trends - In Jinan, the "emotional consumption" area in shopping malls is particularly popular, with products like "squeeze toys" attracting significant attention [3]. - In Shanghai, stores featuring colorful decor and unique products with personalized slogans are drawing young consumers, indicating a shift towards more engaging retail experiences [6]. - The popularity of personalized experiences, such as creating custom "four-panel" comics for 99 yuan, highlights the demand for unique emotional products [8]. Group 2: Sales Growth and Opportunities - Data from Xiaohongshu shows that the number of posts related to emotional products like aromatherapy and stress-relief toys has increased over 400 times in the past three years [10]. - Taobao reports that in 2024, spending on emotional value and interests has become the primary reason for young consumers' purchases, with sales of customized items like hand-drawn portraits and unique pillows rising over 50% [10]. - The surge in demand for stress-relief products has created new growth opportunities for businesses and farmers, with a notable increase in the registration of related companies [10][17]. Group 3: New Careers and Innovations - The trend of emotional consumption is not only transforming the market but also giving rise to imaginative new professions, such as stress toy designers and "doll modification" specialists [19][21]. - A young designer transitioned from crafting traditional art to creating stress-relief toys, successfully launching over 30 popular products [19]. - The "doll modifier" profession has gained popularity, with individuals like Huang Ting training hundreds of students in doll customization, reflecting the growing interest in this niche market [21][23].