Retail sales at China’s warehouse membership stores and unmanned stores each grew by more than 25 percent year on year in January–September 2026, the Ministry of Commerce (商务部) said on 26 October. Convenience-store sales rose 5.2 percent and supermarket sales 4.1 percent, citing National Bureau of Statistics data.
Warehouse clubs and unmanned stores grew by more than 25 percent
Among retailers above the designated size, warehouse membership stores and unmanned stores both recorded retail sales growth above 25 percent in the first nine months, MOFCOM’s circulation development department said.
Shopping-centre retail sales grew at a double-digit rate, and growth in collection-store sales kept accelerating, the ministry said.
Convenience-store sales rose 5.2 percent and supermarket sales 4.1 percent
Convenience stores above the designated size increased retail sales by 5.2 percent year on year in January–September. Supermarket sales rose 4.1 percent over the same period.
At the 78 pedestrian streets and shopping districts that MOFCOM monitors, footfall rose 5.3 percent and turnover 2.5 percent year on year.
Unit: %
Jan-Sep 2026, year on year; store formats above designated size, districts as monitored by MOFCOM · Source: MOFCOM, 26 October 2026
View as table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Convenience stores (sales) | 5.2% |
| Supermarkets (sales) | 4.1% |
| Key pedestrian streets and districts (footfall) | 5.3% |
| Key pedestrian streets and districts (turnover) | 2.5% |
Communications equipment sales rose 18.1 percent, and 31.1 percent in September
Retail sales of communications equipment by enterprises above the designated size reached RMB 812.3 billion in January–September, up 18.1 percent. September alone grew 31.1 percent, the fastest of 16 product categories and the highest rate since June 2025.
Under the consumer goods trade-in programme, more than 100.99 million home appliances were traded in this year, and more than 120.6 million digital and smart products were bought. Sales of wearable smart devices and high energy-efficiency appliances kept growing quickly, MOFCOM said.
Unit: %
Retail sales by enterprises above designated size, year on year · Source: MOFCOM citing NBS, 26 October 2026
View as table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | 31.1% |
| January-September 2026 | 18.1% |
Rural online retail sales grew 6.5 percent to RMB 2.25 trillion
Rural online retail sales reached RMB 2,248.58 billion in January–September, up 6.5 percent, according to MOFCOM’s commerce big data. Rural consumer goods retail sales were RMB 5.01 trillion, up 2.3 percent, 1.4 percentage points faster than in urban areas.
Counties and townships, including town areas and villages, accounted for 39.1 percent of total retail sales of consumer goods, 0.3 percentage points more than a year earlier.
| Indicator | Value | Growth y/y |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse membership stores, retail sales | – | above 25% |
| Unmanned stores, retail sales | – | above 25% |
| Shopping centres, retail sales | – | double digits |
| Convenience stores, retail sales | – | 5.2% |
| Supermarkets, retail sales | – | 4.1% |
| Communications equipment, retail sales | RMB 812.3bn | 18.1% |
| Rural online retail sales | RMB 2,248.58bn | 6.5% |
| Rural consumer goods retail sales | RMB 5.01tn | 2.3% |
| Wholesale and retail value added | RMB 11.1tn | 4.4% |
Wholesale and retail value added rose 4.4 percent to RMB 11.1 trillion
Value added in China’s wholesale and retail sector was RMB 11.1 trillion in the first nine months, up 4.4 percent and 0.7 percentage points faster than in the first half. The sector made up 10.4 percent of GDP.
Profits at commodity markets that MOFCOM tracks rose 5.8 percent, including 8.5 percent for industrial consumer goods markets. By the end of September, pilot areas had built more than 9,500 ’15-minute’ neighbourhood service circles serving over 190 million residents.
China’s time-honoured brands (中华老字号) held 131 promotional events with direct sales of RMB 1.302 billion. Platform data showed dine-in transactions at time-honoured restaurant brands up 7.85 percent, and online retail of agricultural products rose 12.6 percent to RMB 590.9 billion.
Coming up · We may follow up with October retail sales data when the National Bureau of Statistics publishes it.
