Catering stocks continued their upward trajectory, with JIUMAOJIU (09922) rising 3.75% to HKD 1.66, Haidilao (06862) gaining 3.6% to HKD 14.12, SUPER HI (09658) climbing 2.25% to HKD 13.62, and YUM CHINA (09987) advancing 2.02% to HKD 364.2 by the time of writing.

The National Bureau of Statistics reported on December 10 that China's Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.7% year-on-year in November, marking an expansion in growth. Core CPI, excluding food and energy prices, rose 1.2% year-on-year, maintaining an above-1% growth rate for three consecutive months.

Tianfeng Securities previously noted that catering industry retail sales grew 3.8% year-on-year in October, the highest increase since June, indicating positive recovery signals. BOC International highlighted that while catering retail sales slowed in June and the subsequent third quarter due to broader consumption challenges, the industry is shifting from price wars to rational competition, with average spending per customer stabilizing. The report emphasized that companies should now focus on enhancing operational efficiency.