China retail sales sink for first time since Covid — Live Feedhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/china-retail-sales-sink-for-first-time-since-covidContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. China retail sales collapse for first time since Covid as spending cratershttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/china-retail-sales-sink-for-first-time-since-covidhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/china-retail-sales-sink-for-first-time-since-covid#u2019Wed, 17 Jun 2026 01:46:53 +0000China’s retail sales fell 0.6% year-on-year in May 2026, marking the first decline since December 2022. Weak demand for big-ticket and discretionary items—including a 16.1% drop in auto sales—drove the downturn, despite a Labor Day holiday boost. Some sectors like beverages and medicines saw gains, but overall consumer spending remains under pressure. The decline deepens concerns over China’s economic recovery post-pandemic.What's confirmed:China’s retail sales fell 0.6% year-on-year in May 2026, the first decline since December 2022, following a 0.2% gain in April.Automobile sales plunged 16.