China's light industry logs 11 trillion yuan of business revenue in first half of 2025

China's light industry kept growing in the first six months of 2025, continuing its momentum of recovery from late last year and registering steady progress in production in the six-month period, according to the latest official data released by China National Light Industry Council.

From January to June, the value-added of large-scale light industry enterprises rose seven percent year on year, while their total business revenue reached 11.3 trillion yuan (about 1.56 trillion U.S. dollars), reflecting steady progress in recovery.

The policy-fueled consumer demand surged in the first half of the year, with the retail sales of 11 major light industry product categories exceeding 4.3 trillion yuan (about 590 billion U.S. dollars), up 11.6 percent from the previous year.

In the first six months, the government's "trade-in" policy for consumer goods spurred double-digit production growth in electric bicycles, household freezers, washing machines, and gas stoves.

The retail sales of home appliances and audiovisual equipment jumped 30.7 percent, while furniture sales climbed 22.9 percent, continuing the relatively rapid growth momentum since early 2025.

The light industry is rapidly shifting toward high-end and intelligent manufacturing. Digital research and development tools are now used by 86.2 percent of large-scale light industry enterprises, enabling a large scale production of high value-added products.

In the first six months, light industry exports remained resilient.

In the first half of 2025, China's light industry exports totaled 456.8 billion U.S. dollars. Of the 21 major sub-sectors, 11 recorded year-on-year export growth.

China's light industry logs 11 trillion yuan of business revenue in first half of 2025

The U.S. consumer price index (CPI) rose 4.2 percent year on year in May, marking its highest level since May 2023, as energy prices remained high, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday.

Notably, the energy index for May increased 3.9 percent month on month, accounting for over 60 percent of headline inflation.

Gasoline and fuel oil prices increased 40.5 percent and 58.9 percent year on year, respectively, in May.

The national average price of gasoline reached 4.555 U.S. dollars per gallon on May 20, a 50 percent rise since the Iran conflict started in February, according to data released by the American Automobile Association. The price later eased to 4.151 dollars per gallon on Wednesday.

The core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, increased 2.9 percent year on year in May.

Statistics show that U.S. headline CPI for May rose 0.5 percent month on month, down from 0.6 percent in April, while core CPI increased 0.2 percent, compared with a 0.4 percent gain in April and below the market consensus forecast of 0.3 percent.

The report arrives at a critical juncture for markets and Federal Reserve policymakers. While the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee is widely expected to hold interest rates steady at its June 17 meeting, policymakers acknowledged that the inflation surge caused by the Iran conflict will likely delay any rate reduction. The data are likely to reinforce this stance.

Oil prices rose while U.S. stocks traded lower in the morning session on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran has "taken too long to negotiate a deal" and will "have to pay the price."

U.S. May CPI rises to highest level since May 2023