AsianFin--China’s online retail sales jumped 12.4% year on year to nearly 5.77 trillion yuan (about US$790 billion) in the Jan-May period, with online retail sales of physical goods expanding 11.5% and accounting for 24.7% of the total retail sales of consumer goods, according to official data.

Service consumption via online platforms also showed robust growth, with key monitored online services growing by 23.2%. Major online travel platforms reported a 1.9-fold increase in inbound tourism sales.

Digital consumption was also a highlight, with sales of AI-related products increasing by 20.8%. Additionally, e-commerce platforms played a crucial role in promoting trade-in programs, extending the delivery of related products to over 96% of towns and cities across the country. In May alone, sales of key categories like washing machines, furniture, and mobile phones saw significant growth of 33%, 21.3%, and 20%, respectively.