Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods in September 2025

In September, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 419,7.1 billion yuan, up by 3.0% year on year. Specifically, the retail sales of consumer goods excluding automobiles reached 3,726.0 billion yuan, up by 3.2%. From January to September, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 36,587.7 billion yuan, up by 4.5%. Specifically, the retail sales of consumer goods excluding automobiles reached 32,995.4 billion yuan, up by 4.9%.

By areas of business units, in September, the retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas were 3,578.3 billion yuan, up by 2.9% year on year; that in rural areas were 618.8 billion yuan, up by 4.0%. From January to September, the retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas reached 31,683.8 billion yuan, up by 4.4%; that in rural areas reached 4,903.9 billion yuan, up by 4.6%.

By consumption patterns, in September, the retail sales of goods were 3,746.2 billion yuan, up by 3.3% year on year; the income of catering industry was 450.9 billion yuan, up by 0.9%. From January to September, the retail sales of goods reached 32,488.8 billion yuan, up by 4.6%; the income of catering industry reached 4,098.9 billion yuan, up by 3.3%.

By retail formats, from January to September, the retail sales of convenience store, supermarket, department store, specialty store, and brand exclusive storeamong retail enterprises (units) above the designated size increased by 6.4%, 4.4%, 0.9%, 4.8%, and 1.5% year on year, respectively.

From January to September, China’s online retail sales reached 11,283.0 billion yuan, up by 9.8% year on year. Among them, the online retail sales of physical goods were 9,152.8 billion yuan, up by 6.5%, accounting for 25.0% of the total retail sales of consumer goods; among the online retail sales of physical goods, those of food, clothing, and daily necessities increased by 15.1%, 2.8%, and 5.7%, respectively.

Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods in September 2025

Annotations:

1. Notes on Indicators

Total retail sales of consumer goods refers to the revenue of enterprises (units and self-employed individuals) from sales of non-production and non-business physical goods to individuals and social groups, as well as the income obtained from providing catering services.

Online retail sales refers to the total retail sales of goods and services through public online trading platforms (including self-built websites and third-party platforms). Goods and services cover physical goods and non-physical goods (such as virtual goods, service goods, etc.).

The total retail sales of consumer goods include online retail sales of physical goods, excluding online retail sales of non-physical goods.

2. Statistical Coverage

Legal person enterprises, industry activity units, and self-employed individuals engaged in goods retail activities or providing catering services. Specifically, enterprises (units) above the designated size refer to wholesale enterprises (units and self-employed individuals) with an annual business revenue of 20 million yuan and above, retail enterprises (units and self-employed individuals) with an annual business revenue of 5 million yuan and above, and enterprises (units and self-employed individuals) providing accommodation and catering services with an annual business revenue of 2 million yuan and above.

3. Survey Methods

A comprehensive survey is conducted for enterprises (units) above the designated size, while a sampling survey is carried out for enterprises (units) below the designated size.

4. Statistical Standard

As the coverage of enterprises (units and self-employed individuals) engaged in wholesale and retail trades, and in the accommodation and catering industries changes every year, to ensure comparability between the data of the current year and those of the previous year, the year-on-year growth rates of the retail sales of consumer goods and other indicators for enterprises above the designated size are calculated based on the same statistical scope of enterprises (units and self-employed individuals) in the current period, which may differ from the data published for the previous year. The main reason is that each year, some enterprises (units and self-employed individuals) are included in the survey after reaching the designated standard, and some are excluded from the survey due to their smaller scale and failure to meet the designated standard. There are also influences of enterprises (units and self-employed individuals) that are newly-established, bankrupt, and have their business licenses canceled (revoked).

As the coverage of key online platforms included in the online retail sales statistics changes every year, to ensure comparability between the data of the current year and those of the previous year, the year-on-year growth rate of online retail sales is calculated based on the same statistical scope of platforms in the current period, which may differ from the data published for the previous year. The main reason is that new platforms are included in the survey and some are excluded due to failure to meet the requirements of the statistical system every year.

5. Revision on Month-on-Month Data

In accordance with the automatic correction results of the seasonal adjustment model, the month-on-month growth rates of total retail sales of consumer goods since September 2024 are revised. The revised results and the month-on-month data of September 2025 are as follows:

6. Explanation on Year-on-Year Growth Rate

In accordance with the results of the Fifth National Economic Census, the data on the total retail sales of consumer goods and the online retail sales are revised. The monthly growth rates of the total retail sales of consumer goods and the online retail sales in 2025 are calculated on comparable basis.