China's consumer market heats up with various stimulus policies

China's consumer market has maintained a steady upward trajectory in the first quarter, driven by various consumption stimulus policies and indicating the acceleration of consumer potential unleashing, according to the latest data from the country's State Information Center (SIC).

In the first quarter of this year, the offline consumption index, compiled by the State Information Center under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), rose by 14.2 percent year-on-year, marking a 9.1-percentage-point rise from the previous quarter.

Meanwhile, the index tracking the small goods market saw a 16.3 percent year-on-year increase in the first quarter, with March alone experiencing a remarkable 21.6 percent growth compared to last year. This marks a strong and sustained demand for small goods closely tied to everyday life as public consumption demands continue to grow.

In the first three months of 2025, consumption in life services continued to grow, with the index tracking its performance registering an 18.3 percent year-on-year increase, up 7.4 percentage points from the previous quarter. Notably, March saw a 14.5 percent year-on-year rise.

By sector, the leisure and entertainment industry saw a 67.6 percent year-on-year increase, while the catering industry grew by 14.5 percent compared to the same period last year.

The ongoing three-day Qingming Festival holiday has fueled the consumption boom, with people's travel enthusiasm rising.

Data from the State Information Center's internet search trends showed a more than fourfold increase in searches for keywords related to the three-day Qingming Festival travel and flower viewing.

Additionally, diverse consumption scenarios emerged during the holiday, injecting new vitality into the consumer market.

Qingming Festival, a day for tomb sweeping which falls on April 4 this year, is a traditional Chinese occasion where people return to their hometowns and pay respect to their ancestors and deceased family members. It also marks a peak season for spring outings. This year, the holiday runs from April 4 to 6.

China's consumer market heats up with various stimulus policies

A two-day robot fair, part of the shopping campaign for the upcoming Spring Festival, opened on Friday in Suzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, featuring a range of innovative new robots.

Nearly 20 domestic service robot companies showcased their latest products at the event.

A fluffy, child-friendly robot resembling a cat with winking eyes captivated many children.

"The toys at my home can't answer questions. But when I ask this robot, it responds. It's very useful and smart," said a girl.

"We brought here 30 robots to give it a try. But after just one morning, there are only five left now," said Qian Xiaoyu, a PR director from Tuya Smart, a global AI cloud platform service provider.

Robot vacuums are widely used in households, and with the advancement of AI technology, they are becoming increasingly intelligent.

"Some vacuum cleaners may be disrupted by a moving pet, but our models, equipped with a dual-eye obstacle avoidance system, can accurately identify moving obstacles and avoid collisions," said Li Xiuyan, product manager at Dreame Technology.

A wearable exoskeleton robot, equipped with advanced automatic sensing technology, offers a solution for the elderly who struggle with walking, enhancing mobility and independence in their daily lives.

"It's incredibly easy to walk now. I feel as if my legs are lifting effortlessly," said an elderly man.

Robot fair kicks off in east China city for upcoming Spring Festival