The head of the Distribution Development Department of the Ministry of Commerce discussed the development of China's wholesale and retail industry from January to September 2026. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in January-September, China's wholesale and retail industry added value of 11.1 trillion yuan, up 4.4% year on year. The growth rate was 0.7 percentage points higher than in the first half of the year, accounting for 10.4% of GDP. The overall development of the industry is improving, providing strong support for expanding domestic demand in all aspects and strengthening the domestic cycle. The wholesale industry is growing steadily, and the quality of innovative business formats has been upgraded. Looking at the wholesale industry, in January-September, the total profit of the Ministry of Commerce focused on the commodity market increased 5.8% year on year. Among them, total profit from industrial and consumer categories increased 8.5% year on year. Looking at the retail industry, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, retail sales of convenience stores and supermarkets among retail units above the limit increased by 5.2% and 4.1%, respectively, over the same period last year. The transformation of physical retail has accelerated. Retail sales of warehousing member stores and unattended stores above the limit all grew by more than 25% year-on-year, retail sales in shopping malls grew by more than double digits, and retail sales in consolidated stores continued to accelerate. Urban and rural markets have remained active, and passenger flow consumption has increased. Urban commerce is growing steadily. In January-September, passenger traffic and turnover of 78 pedestrian streets and business districts across the country monitored by the Ministry of Commerce increased by 5.3% and 2.5% year-on-year. As of September 2026, the one-quarter hour convenience circle pilot area has built more than 9,500 convenience living circles, serving more than 190 million community residents. The county's consumption potential is unleashed. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in January-September, retail sales of consumer goods in rural areas were 5.01 trillion yuan, an increase of 2.3% over the previous year, and the growth rate was 1.4 percentage points higher than in urban areas. Retail sales of consumer goods in counties and towns, including towns and rural areas, accounted for 39.1% of total retail sales of social consumer goods, an increase of 0.3 percentage points over the same period last year. E-commerce is booming in rural areas. Big business data shows that in January-September, online retail sales in rural areas nationwide were 2248.58 billion yuan, up 6.5% year on year, and online retail sales of agricultural products were 590.9 billion yuan, up 12.6% year on year.

The head of the Distribution Development Department of the Ministry of Commerce discussed the development of China's wholesale and retail industry from January to September 2026. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in January-September, China's wholesale and retail industry added value of 11.1 trillion yuan, up 4.4% year on year. The growth rate was 0.7 percentage points higher than in the first half of the year, accounting for 10.4% of GDP. The overall development of the industry is improving, providing strong support for expanding domestic demand in all aspects and strengthening the domestic cycle. The wholesale industry is growing steadily, and the quality of innovative business formats has been upgraded. Looking at the wholesale industry, in January-September, the total profit of the Ministry of Commerce focused on the commodity market increased 5.8% year on year. Among them, total profit from industrial and consumer categories increased 8.5% year on year. Looking at the retail industry, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, retail sales of convenience stores and supermarkets among retail units above the limit increased by 5.2% and 4.1%, respectively, over the same period last year. The transformation of physical retail has accelerated. Retail sales of warehousing member stores and unattended stores above the limit all grew by more than 25% year-on-year, retail sales in shopping malls grew by more than double digits, and retail sales in consolidated stores continued to accelerate. Urban and rural markets have remained active, and passenger flow consumption has increased. Urban commerce is growing steadily. In January-September, passenger traffic and turnover of 78 pedestrian streets and business districts across the country monitored by the Ministry of Commerce increased by 5.3% and 2.5% year-on-year. As of September 2026, the one-quarter hour convenience circle pilot area has built more than 9,500 convenience living circles, serving more than 190 million community residents. The county's consumption potential is unleashed. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in January-September, retail sales of consumer goods in rural areas were 5.01 trillion yuan, an increase of 2.3% over the previous year, and the growth rate was 1.4 percentage points higher than in urban areas. Retail sales of consumer goods in counties and towns, including towns and rural areas, accounted for 39.1% of total retail sales of social consumer goods, an increase of 0.3 percentage points over the same period last year. E-commerce is booming in rural areas. Big business data shows that in January-September, online retail sales in rural areas nationwide were 2248.58 billion yuan, up 6.5% year on year, and online retail sales of agricultural products were 590.9 billion yuan, up 12.6% year on year.