China's consumer rebound: What's really driving the new trends?
27 March 2026

China's consumer rebound: What's really driving the new trends?

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China's consumer spending has shown a noticeable rebound in the first two months of the year. What are the key drivers? Though the performance beat expectations, it remains the weakest start to a year since 2000, excluding the pandemic slump. How much of a concern is this against the backdrop of still-fragile consumer confidence and broader economic headwinds? And as the rise of the "emotional economy" comes into focus, what should policymakers, investors and businesses do to adapt to these new trends?
Host Tu Yun joins John Gong, Professor of Economics, University of International Business and Economics, Subramania Bhatt, the Founder and CEO of the Singapore-based marketing technology company China Trading Desk, and Chen Jiahe, the Chief Investment Officer of the Beijing-based Novem Arcae Technologies to find out the answers.