Xi Jinping wants China to boost demand. Why isn’t it working? (opens original article in a new tab)

China's efforts to boost domestic demand under Xi Jinping are struggling as retail sales and investment decline, with property sector issues and high costs exacerbating economic challenges.

• Xi Jinping urged boosting domestic demand in 2026 but retail sales turned negative for the first time since 2022.
• Investment weakened with a 4.1% decline in the first five months of 2026, the worst since early COVID.
• Property sector slowdown and high input costs are contributing to economic challenges in China.