China smart glasses sales more than double in eight months

Sales of smart glasses in China more than doubled during the first eight months of the year, according to data from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. This surge is part of a broader trend in consumer electronics, which includes a 75% increase in the sale of electrocardiogram monitors and a 27% rise in action camera sales.

Consumption patterns in China are shifting toward services and high-tech gadgets. Service retail sales grew by 4.9%, outpacing the growth of physical goods by 3.9 percentage points. This shift was particularly notable during the summer holiday period, driven by increased spending on tourism and leisure.

In contrast, sales of petroleum products fell by 6.1%, a decline attributed to the rising adoption of new energy sources. Additionally, rural retail sales grew by 2.3%, expanding faster than urban sales. Combined, provincial and rural markets now account for 39% of all retail consumer goods sales in China.