Growth in online sales during China's annual "618" shopping festival weakened sharply compared to the previous year, signaling that the country's consumer spending slowdown is far from over.
The mid-year retail event, traditionally a key barometer for domestic demand, showed muted momentum as shoppers remained cautious.
The data reinforces broader concerns about the resilience of China's domestic economy.
Despite policy efforts to stimulate demand, consumer confidence appears to be lagging, with households prioritizing savings over discretionary spending.
This trend poses a challenge for policymakers aiming to rebalance growth away from investment and exports.
Markets are likely to view the weak sales figures as a further indicator of structural weakness in the Chinese consumer sector.