SHANGHAI -- Chinese consumer spending soared during the Lunar New Year holidays, especially at online retailers, though travel expenditures were subdued due to COVID-19-induced restrictions.
Total retail and catering sales from Feb. 11 to Wednesday increased 29% from last year's holiday period to 821 billion yuan ($128 billion), the commerce ministry revealed on Wednesday, as many restaurants in cities offered special takeout fare for customary New Year's Eve reunion dinners.
