Value-added tax invoice data indicates that during the 2026 Spring Festival holiday, average daily sales revenue in consumption-related sectors nationwide increased by 13.7% compared to the previous year's holiday period. The consumer market demonstrated strong performance with distinct highlights, characterized by a clear trend toward intelligent and green consumer goods. Demand for tourism, sightseeing, and cultural consumption remained vigorous. The ice and snow economy boosted rapid growth in tourism services in related provinces, while dining consumption warmed up and retail sales of goods maintained steady growth.
Policy incentives encouraging "replacement of old items" stimulated consumer enthusiasm for upgrading, with a noticeable preference for high-quality, technologically advanced intelligent products. Sales revenue of daily household appliances, including robotic vacuum cleaners and projection TVs, rose by 19% year-on-year. Improved charging and battery-swapping infrastructure provided green mobility solutions, with revenue from vehicle charging services surging by 163.9% during the holiday.
The cultural and tourism market remained vibrant, with ice-snow tourism and travel to Hainan continuing to drive consumption. The extended holiday period facilitated the release of pent-up travel demand, leading to a 39.6% increase in tourism-related service revenue. Boosted by the Winter Olympics, the ice and snow economy grew rapidly, with combined tourism service revenue in key regions such as Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, and Xinjiang rising by 62.4%. Hainan Free Trade Port welcomed its first long holiday after customs closure, attracting a large number of shoppers and tourists, resulting in a 70.9% increase in scenic spot service revenue. The holiday also saw a blend of traditional culture and modern consumption, with rising demand for online music, video entertainment, and performances at cultural venues. Revenue from digital cultural services and art performance venues grew by 38.8% and 136.6%, respectively.
Dining consumption gained momentum, while retail services provided convenience for holiday shopping. The catering market performed strongly, with many regions launching specialty dining events. Banquet orders surged, driving a 31.2% increase in catering revenue. Full-service dining rose by 26.5%, adding a festive atmosphere to family reunions, while snack services grew even faster, up 42.1%, highlighting regional culinary diversity. Department store retail increased by 39.3%, and online retail sales grew by 10.4% on top of a high base from the previous year, offering convenient shopping options during the holiday.
According to Huang Lixin, Director of the Tax Science Research Institute under the State Taxation Administration, the significant growth in average daily sales revenue during the Spring Festival holiday was driven by three main factors: the extended holiday period boosting consumer enthusiasm, the continued effectiveness of the "replacement of old items" policy, and the pilot incentive invoice programs in certain cities stimulating spending. The robust holiday consumption figures reflect the vitality and potential of China’s consumer market, laying a foundation and boosting confidence for sustaining and expanding the country’s steady economic recovery this year.