China consumption growth slows to 5.1% in April as trade war bites

Property sector woes continue to dampen broader demand

20250519 China econs data

A trade-in consumer subsidy program supported sales of household appliances. © Reuters

WATARU SUZUKI and GRACE LI

SHANGHAI/TOKYO -- China's retail sales grew slower than expected in April, as the trade war with the U.S. dented the impact of government subsidies.

Sales of retail goods rose 5.1% from a year ago, moderating from 5.9% in March, China's National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday. The reading fell short of a consensus forecast of 6% in a Bloomberg poll. A trade-in consumer subsidy program supported sales of household appliances.

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