Jewellery sales in China rose 6.9 per cent year over year in the first quarter of 2025, latest data from the country’s National Bureau of Statistics showed. 

First-quarter sales also demonstrated a faster pace of growth compared to the first two months of the year, which could indicate steady recovery in consumer spending on discretionary goods.

This is also an improvement from the 3.1 per cent drop in 2024 jewellery sales, which suffered from economic uncertainties and record-high gold prices. Sales last year totalled RMB330 billion (approximately US$45.3 billion), slightly lower than RMB331 billion recorded in 2023.

Overall, retail sales of goods in China grew 4.6 per cent year on year in Q1 2025, with nearly 80 per cent of major retail categories showing a positive trend. Gold, silver and jewellery, alongside categories such as food and sports equipment, were among the top performers.

According to Yu Jianxun, director of the Department of Trade and External Economic Relations Statistics at the bureau, China's consumer market demonstrated solid recovery in early 2025. Consumer confidence, however, is yet to bounce back to previous levels. “Recovery in some areas remains slow and business conditions in the commercial sector require improvement,” he added.