China's Online Retail Sales Grew 4.8% in First Seven Months of the Year

China's nationwide online retail sales of goods and services expanded by 4.8 percent year-on-year during the first seven months of the year, contributing more than 50 percent to the overall growth of retail sales of goods and services. According to official data, online retail among enterprises above a designated size accounted for 28.7 percent of their total sales, up 2.5 percentage points from the same period last year. Online services exhibited particularly rapid growth, with online travel and local consumer services rising 24.9 percent and 16.3 percent, respectively.

Online retail continues to drive more than half of the growth in China's broader consumer market, demonstrating that digital consumption remains a primary pillar supporting domestic demand. The rapid expansion of service-oriented e-commerce, such as travel and lifestyle services, highlights an ongoing structural shift where Chinese consumers are allocating more discretionary spending toward experiential and convenience-driven activities.

China's nationwide online retail sales of goods and services increased by 4.8 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of the year, providing a major anchor for overall domestic consumption. According to official data reported by People's Daily, online retail contributed more than 50 percent to the expansion of total retail sales of goods and services over the January–July period. The performance reflects the steady role of e-commerce channels in stimulating consumer demand and facilitating digital-physical integration across retail and services. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicated that retail sales of physical goods conducted online by commercial enterprises above a designated size accounted for 28.7 percent of their total retail sales, representing an increase of 2.5 percentage points compared to the same period of the previous year. This rising share demonstrates that larger retail enterprises are continuing to deepen their digital distribution footprints. At the same time, service-oriented online spending outpaced general merchandise retail. Data tracked across key e-commerce platforms monitored by the Ministry of Commerce showed that online travel bookings rose 24.9 percent year-on-year during the first seven months, while online local lifestyle services expanded by 16.3 percent. State media highlighted that digital channels have expanded the reach of consumer goods while improving access to consumer services. The continued development of e-commerce, bolstered by digital and smart technologies, is positioned as a key driver for upgrading industrial supply chains, broadening international trade partnerships, and supporting the broader real economy.