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News about consumer spending and shifting shopping habits from around the world with a focus on developments in Hong Kong and mainland China.
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E-commerce
Meituan executive bemoans ‘irrational’ price war with Alibaba, JD.com
Comments come as the three rivals offer increasingly hefty discounts in a heated battle for market share.
17 Jul 2025 - 7:00PM
Timepieces
Swatch says profit plunge ‘exclusively attributable’ to declining sales in China
17 Jul 2025 - 5:03PM
China consumption
‘Actionable results’ needed to get Chinese spending again, No 4 official says
16 Jul 2025 - 8:00PM
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Smartphones
Huawei becomes China’s top smartphone seller for the first time in 4 years: IDC
Tech giant holds 18.1 per cent share of the mainland’s market in the second quarter, but shipments fall 3.4 per cent to 12.5 million units.
16 Jul 2025 - 5:00PM
Banking & finance
Labubu maker Pop Mart expects first-half profit jump of at least 350%
Beijing-based firm attributes first-half growth to the increased global recognition of the Pop Mart brand and its intellectual properties.
16 Jul 2025 - 4:24PM
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Consumer protection in Hong Kong
Go with the flow: Hong Kong consumer watchdog posts portable fan performance gaps
Study of products shows disparity in airflow and battery life, as well as concerns over ‘inadequate’ safety manuals.
15 Jul 2025 - 8:24PM
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Consumer protection in Hong Kong
Hong Kong man, 80, talked into 5½-year phone plan costing 6 times usual bill
Consumer Council warns that elderly residents are among vulnerable targets of those using predatory telecommunications sales tactics.
15 Jul 2025 - 6:12PM
E-commerce
Alibaba delivers 80 million orders in 1 day amid price war
Meituan, Taobao, Ele.me and JD.com shower consumers with freebies and promotions, leaving customers gleeful and merchants overwhelmed.
14 Jul 2025 - 7:59PM
China economy
Opinion
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For Chinese firms going out, global success requires truly ‘going in’
Beyond great products and service, building a trusted brand requires Chinese firms to integrate into, not just occupy, foreign markets.
13 Jul 2025 - 8:30PM
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E-commerce
Meituan’s daily orders hit record 150 million amid rivalry with JD.com, Alibaba
Daily delivery volumes at the mainland’s top on-demand delivery giant reached 150 million from 120 million last week.
13 Jul 2025 - 2:21PM
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China property
Opinion
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Why China can’t make a clean break from reliance on land and property
There is no lack of reform ambition but there will be no clean break: the old system persists because no fully functional alternative exists.
11 Jul 2025 - 6:43AM
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Smartphones
Samsung bets on AI foldable phones to challenge Apple, Chinese rivals
The South Korean giant lost its global smartphone crown to Apple in 2023, and faces growing competition from Huawei and Honor.
10 Jul 2025 - 11:51AM
Starbucks
Starbucks draws interest for controlling stake in China unit
Company is sifting through proposals and shortlisting a group of potential investors for a next round of bidding, sources say.
9 Jul 2025 - 3:47PM
China consumption
Explainer
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How can China boost consumer spending? Here are 5 ideas being floated in Beijing
As Beijing’s efforts to boost consumption begin to lose momentum, top Chinese economists are calling for bolder action.
8 Jul 2025 - 11:22AM
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Banking & finance
Can Xiaomi disrupt the home appliance market like it did with EVs?
Despite early success at home, industry watchers caution that the company faces significant challenges in competing with established players.
8 Jul 2025 - 8:30AM
Hong Kong property
Hong Kong economy’s ‘mixed signals’ portend retail ‘turbulence’, analysts say
Shops keep closing despite retail sales growth but certain sectors show ‘leasing velocity’, while both tourist numbers and unemployment rise.
8 Jul 2025 - 7:17AM
China travel
China’s visa-free policy pays dividends as overseas entries soar in 2025
China’s major cities have reported enormous increases in visitors from abroad, many entering under a popular visa exemption scheme.
7 Jul 2025 - 9:00PM
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Asean
Opinion
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Why Vietnam’s US trade deal is a high-risk economic gamble
It’s a strategic chance to catalyse economic reforms but failure risks making Vietnam a dependent client state.
7 Jul 2025 - 8:30PM
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Asean
Eating plastic: the hidden cost of convenience in Southeast Asia
If plastic pollution continues to worsen in the region, its people could face a wide range of health issues, medical experts warn.
7 Jul 2025 - 7:37PM
Japan
Wages down, prices up: Japan’s cost-of-living squeeze tightens
With prices still rising faster than salaries, the actual purchasing power of Japanese workers continues to shrink – despite a boost in pay.
7 Jul 2025 - 3:11PM
China economy
Opinion
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Will China’s bid to boost domestic demand pay off?
Beijing is making great strides in the transition towards a consumption-based economy. However, the path forward is not without risk.
6 Jul 2025 - 8:30PM
E-commerce
Meituan captures record orders as e-commerce war fuels demand for delivery
Daily orders surpassed 120 million on Meituan’s instant delivery service platform on Saturday; Taobao and JD.com also reported good volume.
6 Jul 2025 - 5:01PM
India
Prada’s new US$1,200 sandal is an Indian classic. Is it cultural appropriation?
Was it an oversight or cultural theft? The Prada controversy highlights a simmering tension between global brands and traditional artisans.
7 Jul 2025 - 8:08AM
Hong Kong stock market
KFC, Pizza Hut operator Yum China adopts AI to spur efficiency, profitability
Digital ordering accounted for about 90 per cent of Yum China’s sales in 2024, backed by its 540 million ‘membership’ consumers.
6 Jul 2025 - 3:33PM
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China economy
Opinion
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Chinese companies must now focus on wooing consumers at home
Re-routing exports away from the US offers only brief relief; the playbook must now start at home, with China’s vast market.
5 Jul 2025 - 9:30AM
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Malaysia
Malaysia’s new ‘luxury’ taxes hit the middle class where it hurts
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim promised the new taxes would only affect the rich, but many ordinary families are starting to feel the pinch.
7 Jul 2025 - 10:48AM
Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels’ iconic new floral collection unveiled at Dumfries House
Van Cleef & Arpels CEO Catherine Rénier on the inspirations behind the collection, which combines the ageless appeal of precious stones with floral motifs.
4 Jul 2025 - 2:27PM
Asean
Opinion
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How Asian businesses can compete with China’s apex predators
China’s growing supply chains offer short-term opportunities but Asia must quickly learn from how it tests and strategically nurtures firms.
4 Jul 2025 - 10:50AM
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