BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- In the first half of 2025, digital consumption reached 9.37 trillion yuan (about 1.3 trillion U.S. dollars) in China, accounting for 46.5 percent of total household consumer spending, according to a report on digital consumption for 2025.
According to the report released by the China Internet Network Information Center, China had more than 958 million digital consumers by June, accounting for 85.3 percent of all internet users.
Online consumption is no longer confined to the young or urban. Generation Z accounts for 27.2 percent of digital consumers, while people aged 60 and above make up 12.2 percent. Rural users, at 26 percent, now participate in online subsidy programs at rates comparable to their urban counterparts.
What people buy online is also evolving. Smart products have shifted from novelty to mainstream, with nearly four in 10 internet users purchasing smart home appliances, digital devices or wearables in the first half of 2025. Meanwhile, "trendy toys," ranging from blind boxes to IP-themed merchandise, have emerged as a niche but fast-growing segment, reflecting the rise of emotion-driven consumption.
Digital travel, transport and cultural services generated over one trillion yuan in spending, as did food delivery. Spending on digital public services, including online healthcare, education and home services, exceeded 500 billion yuan.
By mid-2025, users of on-demand home services, which extended to include pet care and elderly care, surpassed 223 million, according to the report.
The report noted that artificial intelligence is poised to become a key driver of China's next phase of digital consumption, reshaping both supply and the consumer experience.
The report is based on the results of a telephone sampling survey of 30,000 residents across 31 provincial-level regions. ■
