Part 5/9:

Economist assessments highlight structural issues inherent within the consumer market, where the shrinking middle class continues to bear the brunt of economic stagnation. Despite government interventions to spur growth, such as lowering mortgage rates and pressing for more substantial investment in areas like social security, the anticipated turnaround in consumer spending remains elusive.

The Future of Physical Retail

The closures of various malls—including the Red Star Macklin locations in Chongqing and Wuhan—raise pressing questions about the future of physical retail in China. Several TikTok users have documented similar experiences in other locales, revealing abandoned shopping venues and a fading economic pulse across urban centers.