Story perspectives

China Issues Retail Innovation Plan Amid Slowing Sales

7/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

China’s Ministry of Commerce and eight other authorities issued guidelines to boost retail innovation.
The plan calls for differentiated competition, rational pricing and turning stores into shopping hubs by 2030, and requires online platforms to keep product ranges.
Zhou Changqing, Retail China manager, said May’s retail sales slowed to weakest level since December 2022 because a “trading down” trend pushes shoppers toward cheaper brands, squeezing sellers’ margins amid price pressure.

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Story summary

China’s Ministry of Commerce and eight other authorities issued guidelines to boost retail innovation.
The plan calls for differentiated competition, rational pricing and turning stores into shopping hubs by 2030, and requires online platforms to keep product ranges.
Zhou Changqing, Retail China manager, said May’s retail sales slowed to weakest level since December 2022 because a “trading down” trend pushes shoppers toward cheaper brands, squeezing sellers’ margins amid price pressure.