Economics

China’s Cautious Consumers Offer Clues for Post-Pandemic World

  • Retail sales have rebounded but consumers remain wary
  • Demand for goods has outstripped purchases of services
Vendors wait for customers at fabric stores in Chongqing, China, on June 1.Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
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Consumers in China remain cautious even though the Covid-19 outbreak has been under control for much of the past year. That’s offering clues for the kind of spending patterns that emerge globally once pent up demand fades.