China’s retail sales rose 0.4% year-on-year in August 2026, slowing from July’s 0.6% increase and missing the 0.8% market forecast. Demand for big-ticket goods remained weak, led by an 18.5% decline in automobile sales. Furniture, building materials, and gold and silver jewelry sales also fell. Excluding automobiles, retail sales grew 2.5%. Communication equipment recorded the strongest increase at 27.3%, while tobacco and alcohol, cultural and office supplies, and cosmetics also posted gains. Catering revenue rose 1.1% and goods sales increased 0.3%. Online goods retail sales advanced 4.3% in the first eight months. Retail sales declined 0.13% month-on-month in August after rising 0.01% in July. For January-August, total retail sales increased 1.1%, while sales excluding automobiles rose 2.7%.