Chinese consumers remain reluctant to spend after virus

Open account Download free app

Monthly set of indicators from China was released today. The data casts shadow on any expectations of V-shaped recovery in major economies. Industrial production increased 3.9% YoY in April but retail sales saw a drop of 7.5% YoY. This shows that putting people back to work only required lifting restrictions but getting people back to shops is a different story. Clothing, jewellery, restaurant and mobile phone spending dropped significantly. Data from China may serve as a guide on what to expect once major economies like Germany, Japan or the United States fully reopen. Fixed investments remain depressed and declined 10.3% from a year ago. However, the reading was largely ignored by the markets. Even copper - barometer for global growth - is trading higher today.

Data from China, especially retail sales data, casts shadow on expectations of V-shaped recovery in major economies. While industrial production growth (yellow) jumped into positive territory, retail sales growth (white) continues to be negative. Source: Bloomberg

27 March 2026, 3:31 PM

US OPEN: Wall Street declines deepens

27 March 2026, 3:13 PM

The Michigan Sentiment Index highlights concerns about a short-term spike in U.S. inflation💡

27 March 2026, 8:24 AM

Economic Calendar: A Calm End to the Week for Markets

26 March 2026, 9:42 AM

Consumer sentiments fall in Germany and France amid rising energy prices

Economic reports

Cookie name	Description
SERVERID
userBranchSymbol	Expiration date 1 day
test_cookie	Expiration date 1 hour
adobe_unique_id	Expiration date 364 days
__hssc	Expiration date 1 hour
SESSID	Expiration date 1 day
__cf_bm	Expiration date 1 hour
intercom-id-iojaybix	Expiration date 270 days
intercom-session-iojaybix	Expiration date 6 days
xtbCookiesSettings	Expiration date 364 days
TS5b68a4e1027
countryIsoCode
xtbLanguageSettings	Expiration date 364 days
userPreviousBranchSymbol	Expiration date 364 days
intercom-device-id-iojaybix	Expiration date 270 days
__cfruid
_cfuvid

Cookie name	Description
_gid	Expiration date 1 day
_gat_UA-98728395-1	Expiration date 1 hour
_gat_UA-121192761-1	Expiration date 1 hour
_gcl_au	Expiration date 89 days
_ga_CBPL72L2EC	Expiration date 729 days
_ga	Expiration date 729 days
__hstc	Expiration date 179 days
__hssrc
_vwo_uuid_v2	Expiration date 365 days
_ga_TC79BEJ20L	Expiration date 729 days
_vwo_uuid	Expiration date 365 days
_vwo_ds	Expiration date 29 days
_vwo_sn	Expiration date 1 hour
_vis_opt_s	Expiration date 99 days
_vis_opt_test_cookie
af_id	Expiration date 394 days
afUserId	Expiration date 730 days
AF_SYNC	Expiration date 6 days
AnalyticsSyncHistory	Expiration date 29 days

Cookie name	Description
MUID	Expiration date 389 days
_omappvp	Expiration date 3998 days
_omappvs	Expiration date 1 hour
_uetsid	Expiration date 1 day
_uetvid	Expiration date 389 days
_fbp	Expiration date 89 days
fr	Expiration date 89 days
_ttp	Expiration date 89 days
_tt_enable_cookie	Expiration date 89 days
hubspotutk	Expiration date 179 days
IDE	Expiration date 389 days
YSC
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE	Expiration date 179 days
li_sugr	Expiration date 89 days
guest_id_marketing	Expiration date 729 days
guest_id_ads	Expiration date 729 days
guest_id	Expiration date 729 days
muc_ads	Expiration date 729 days
VISITOR_PRIVACY_METADATA	Expiration date 179 days
MSPTC	Expiration date 389 days

Cookie name	Description
bcookie	Expiration date 364 days
lidc	Expiration date 1 day
UserMatchHistory	Expiration date 29 days
bscookie	Expiration date 364 days
li_gc	Expiration date 179 days
personalization_id	Expiration date 729 days