Broadly speaking, consumer sentiment has held up in 2014. However, much of the focus of a consumer-led recovery has come from the housing market, and not necessarily in the more discretionary consumer categories that help retailers thrive.
The Economist Intelligence Unit remains cautious about the medium-term outlook for the sector. Employment growth and improving credit availability will support sales growth, but recent declines in the household savings rate will not continue indefinitely, and recent rapid house price inflation risks encouraging destabilising levels of borrowing.
Although sentiment has picked up sharply, over the forecast period many indebted households will need to continue to repair their balance sheets against a backdrop of public-sector austerity and squeezed real household incomes.

Consumer goods and retail report 2

Overview 2

Retail 3

Food and drink 6

Non-food products 9

Industry publishing schedule 13

中国科学技术信息研究所