Smart glasses sales in China more than doubled during the first eight months of 2026, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce. Other wearable devices also saw growth, with ECG-enabled heart rate monitors increasing by 75 percent and action cameras by nearly 27 percent on major e-commerce platforms.
Retail sales of services rose by 4.9 percent between January and August, outpacing the 3.9 percent growth in goods. The Ministry of Commerce noted a shift in consumption patterns toward a greater balance between spending on goods and services, with tourism and leisure sectors showing the fastest growth during the summer months.
The report also highlights a 6.1 percent decline in petroleum product sales, attributed to the increased adoption of new energy sources. Rural retail sales grew by 2.3 percent, outperforming urban areas by 1.3 percent. County and rural markets accounted for 39 percent of total retail consumer goods, an increase of 0.3 percent compared to the previous year.
