EconomyNo More ‘Shop Till You Drop’: Why Chinese Consumers Are Saving Instead

China is known for producing goods that sell around the world, yet domestic spending remains well below what the government expects. A weak property market, persistently high youth unemployment and fragile consumer confidence are encouraging many households to save rather than spend. Beijing has introduced measures including consumer subsidies and a five-year plan aimed at expanding consumption. The limited impact of these policies raises questions about whether the downturn is temporary or reflects deeper structural problems.