From January to August 2021, retail sales of clothing, footwear, headwear and knitted goods grew 24.8 per cent in China. Sales of social consumer goods were up by 18.1 per cent, eight per cent higher than the same period in 2019.

In August 2021, retail sales of social consumer goods saw a year-on-year growth of 2.5 per cent, three per cent higher than 2019. By consumption type, in August, retail sales of commodity had a year-on-year growth of 3.3 per cent. From January to August, retail sales of commodity were up by 16.5 per cent year-on-year. Retail sales of clothing, footwear and headwear and knitted goods were down six per cent year on year in August. From January to August, China’s online retail sales grew 19.7 per cent year on year. In the online retail sales of physical commodities, wearing goods increased by 19.4 per cent year on year.

China's garment industry reported higher revenue and profit in the first eight months of 2021. From January to August, the combined operating revenue of 12,520 major garment companies was up 9.6 per cent year on year. Total profits of these companies rose 9.5 per cent from a year earlier while the combined output expanded 12.9 per cent year on year to 15.2 billion pieces.