Customers shop at a 7Fresh supermarket by JD.com in Daxing district of Beijing on 晋江新闻网跳楼事件Feb 19. CHINA DAILY

Fast-moving consumer goods sales in urban China grew 1.5 percent year-on-year in 2025, said Kantar Worldpanel China, a marketing research institute, signaling steady growth in the retail sector where consumption patterns are evolving.

The National Bureau of Statistics said final consumption expenditure accounted for 52 percent of the country's economic growth in 2025, up 5 percentage points from the previous year.

Retail giant Walmart China consolidated its position as a leader in the Chinese retail market last year. The company posted strong performance in the Chinese market in its latest quarterly earnings, with net sales reaching $6.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, a 19.3 percent increase from the same period in 2024.

Despite a delayed Spring Festival season in February, which typically boosts retail activity, Walmart recorded a 10.7 percent growth in comparable sales, driven by strong momentum from its Sam's Club membership business and e-commerce.

Sam's Club continues to post double-digit growth in transactions. The warehouse chain, which focuses on high-end, bulk-selling products for middle-income urban families, opened 10 new stores in the past 12 months, including six in the most recent quarter. The company was operating 63 clubs as of January.

Its e-commerce business saw a 28 percent year-on-year increase in the fourth quarter, now accounting for over 50 percent of the retailer's total sales.

For fiscal year ended Jan 31, 2026, Walmart's total global revenue reached $713.2 billion, up 4.7 percent year-on-year, with adjusted operating profit increasing 5.4 percent to $31.1 billion.

It continues to focus on innovation and growth in China, and recently partnered with RedNote, a leading social media platform in the country.

The collaboration aims to co-create new products and customer shopping experiences. The two sides recently launched a co-branded product line and opened a new retail space at Walmart's Shekou location in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. This partnership signifies the company's commitment to integrating social commerce and digital engagement into its physical retail strategy.

Additionally, Walmart is accelerating the rollout of its community stores model by opening four new stores in Shenzhen in February. The move is aimed at urban middle-income consumers with fast access to high-quality products and convenience.

Meanwhile, the retailer's expansion of its private label, Marketside, also aligns with changing consumer preferences for fresh and high-quality products at competitive prices. The private label — which emphasizes simplicity, collaboration with top suppliers and a price-to-quality ratio — now includes nearly 1,000 new products in categories like fresh produce, food and beverages, Walmart said.