China's consumer market maintains stable growth in April: Ministry of Commerce

China's consumer market maintained stable growth in April, with robust sales registered across various product categories, according to the Ministry of Commerce on Friday.

The total retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of the country's consumption strength, reached 3.72 trillion yuan (about 517.27 billion U.S. dollars) in April, expanding 5.1 percent year on year, according to the ministry.

Specifically, the retail sales in the country's urban regions rose 5.2 percent, while those in rural areas expanded 4.7 percent.

As the country's trade-in policies continued to take effect, retail sales of household appliances, cultural and office supplies, furniture and communication equipment by enterprises above the designated size grew by 38.8 percent, 33.5 percent, 26.9 percent and 19.9 percent in April, respectively.

Industrial enterprises above the designated size refers to the industrial enterprises each with annual business revenue over 20 million yuan.

China's passenger car sector registered a surge in retail sales in April, growing by 14.5 percent year on year to reach about 1.76 million units, according to the China Passenger Car Association.

The retail sales in services, including services in transportation, accommodation, catering, education, health, sports, entertainment and other fields, grew by 5.1 percent in April, 0.4 percentage point higher than the sales growth in goods.

The revenue of the catering sector increased by 5.2 percent year on year in April, 0.5 percentage point higher than the corresponding level in the first quarter.

China's inbound tourism has maintained a strong growth momentum, with a sharp rise in both international arrivals and visitor spending. The number of inbound tourist visits in the first four months rose by 54.8 percent, while total spending increased by 66.8 percent.

In April, the retail sales volume of new energy passenger vehicles increased by 33.9 percent, achieving a penetration rate of 51.5 percent. The retail sales of sports and recreational goods grew by 23.3 percent in the month.

China's online retail sales went up 7.7 percent year on year during the first four months, sustaining relatively fast growth.

The online retail sales of physical goods grew by 5.8 percent, accounting for 24.3 percent of total retail sales of consumer goods, an increase of 0.3 percentage points compared to the first quarter.

China's digital consumption growth also accelerated in the first four months, with the online sales of digital products increasing by 8.4 percent. In particular, the sales of smart robots surged by 87.6 percent, while the sales of smart home appliances increased by 16 percent.

In the first four months, the sales of trade-in products grew rapidly, with the online sales of 15 categories of home appliances and digital products climbing by 11.5 percent year on year.

China's consumer market maintains stable growth in April: Ministry of Commerce

The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.

In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.

"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.

Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."

Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.

President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.

Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests