China Tourism Consulting and Rental Retail Sales Grow Over 10% in Jan-Aug
On September 15, the State Council Information Office held a press conference at which the National Bureau of Statistics presented China's economic performance for August 2026. In January-August, services consumption grew well and the cultural-tourism leisure services market expanded. In August, the national services production index rose 4.1% year on year, and 4.7% for January-August; the August services business activity index was 49.3% and the business activity expectations index 55.5%. In January-August, total retail sales of consumer goods and services rose 2.5% year on year, with services retail sales up 4.9% and goods retail sales up 1.0%. Retail sales of communications and informati…
Impact and considerations
Official data confirm cultural-tourism leisure services are among the main expanding segments of services consumption, with tourism consulting and rental retail sales growing more than 10%, providing demand-side evidence for travel, lodging, mobility and inbound-consumption businesses exposed to the China market.
Key points
- On September 15, the State Council Information Office held a press conference at which the National Bureau of Statistics presented China's economic performance for August 2026.
- In January-August, services consumption grew well, supporting the expansion of domestic demand, and the cultural-tourism leisure services market expanded.
- In August, the national services production index rose 4.1% year on year, and 4.7% for January-August.
- The August services business activity index was 49.3%, and the services business activity expectations index was 55.5%.
- In January-August, total retail sales of consumer goods and services rose 2.5% year on year, with services retail sales up 4.9% and goods retail sales up 1.0%.
- Within services retail sales, communications and information services, tourism consulting and rental services, and culture and sports leisure services grew relatively fast.
- In January-August, retail sales of communications and information services and of tourism consulting and rental services both grew more than 10%.
- Inbound shopping and cultural-tourism experience spending by overseas visitors also showed good growth.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- 中国旅游新闻网
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 15 Sept 2026, 08:00
- Page published
- 16 Sept 2026, 00:08
- Last updated
- 15 Sept 2026, 08:00
- Original links
- China Tourism News：国新办发布会：1—8月份文旅休闲服务市场规模扩大-中国旅游新闻网Document (opens in a new tab)Primary source · zh · Published 15 Sept 2026, 08:00