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China economy

News analysis

China again puts domestic demand first, but the payoff will be slow

FILE PHOTO: Customers shop for a washing machine at a home appliance mall in Beijing, China October 19, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Customers shop for a washing machine at a home appliance mall in Beijing, China October 19, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo

China’s worst retail sales since Covid-19 add to growth risks

Retail sales rose just 1.3 per cent in November from a year ago – the slowest figures on record, outside the pandemic.
Retail sales rose just 1.3 per cent in November from a year ago – the slowest figures on record, outside the pandemic.

As jobs dry up, China’s migrant workers are returning to their villages and staying put

Significant numbers of unemployed migrant workers are returning to their home towns and remaining there.
Significant numbers of unemployed migrant workers are returning to their home towns and remaining there.

From planes and cars to beer, factory tours a draw for young Chinese

Parents and children on an airplane factory tour in Zhuhai in December 2025.
Parents and children on an airplane factory tour in Zhuhai in December 2025.

China consumer prices pick up but factory deflation gets worse

Customers look at gold jewelry at the Jinzhan Jewellery Square in the Shuibei Jewellery market in Shenzhen, China, on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. Chinese jewelers and smaller firms in the gold sector look set to be hardest hit by tax changes announced earlier this month that got rid of long-standing incentives for some retailers of the metal. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
Customers look at gold jewelry at the Jinzhan Jewellery Square in the Shuibei Jewellery market in Shenzhen, China, on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. Chinese jewelers and smaller firms in the gold sector look set to be hardest hit by tax changes announced earlier this month that got rid of long-standing incentives for some retailers of the metal. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg

News analysis

China reveals unease over trade in economic road map for 2026

China faces a worsening economic picture at home. Growth has cooled following months of slowdown in consumption and rapidly falling investment.
China faces a worsening economic picture at home. Growth has cooled following months of slowdown in consumption and rapidly falling investment.

Why China is unlikely to fully bail out yet another troubled property developer as market jitters grow

FILE PHOTO: A person walks past by a gate with a sign of Vanke at a construction site in Shanghai, China, March 21, 2017. Picture taken March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A person walks past by a gate with a sign of Vanke at a construction site in Shanghai, China, March 21, 2017. Picture taken March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo

China’s trade surplus tops US$1 trillion for first time on strong exports to non-US markets

The milestone will draw scrutiny from trading partners that are having to contend with a flood of cheaper goods from China.
The milestone will draw scrutiny from trading partners that are having to contend with a flood of cheaper goods from China.

The economic miracle of China’s midday naps

Chinese companies  have dedicated hours during which the office lights are dimmed, fold-out beds are rolled out and lunches are slept off.
Chinese companies  have dedicated hours during which the office lights are dimmed, fold-out beds are rolled out and lunches are slept off.

Humanoid robots have a data problem. China’s ‘training centres’ hope to fix it

A human-controlled humanoid robot waters a potted plant at robotics start-up Zerith's data collection facility in Hefei.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ZERITH
A human-controlled humanoid robot waters a potted plant at robotics start-up Zerith's data collection facility in Hefei.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ZERITH

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2025 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.