Decoding Beijing’s Consumer Agenda

Household consumption in China has always been a puzzle, featuring prominently in official meetings and strategic plans yet rarely living up to the lofty expectations set by policymakers. Even as the government pledges new campaigns and promotes a more service-oriented growth model, the underlying causes of lackluster consumer spending remain highly debated. Whether it is stagnant wages, insufficient social benefits, or sheer uncertainty about future income, the conversation is no longer about whether consumption should pick up but about how policymakers can turn rhetoric into reality.