Consumer climate • Table.Briefings

March 9th, 2026

JD.com: Heavy spending on food delivery squeezes profits

JD.com’s profit was cut in half last year. To compete in China’s fiercely contested food-delivery market, the company said it absorbed sharply higher operating costs.

By Fabian Peltsch

Talk of the Town | National People's Congress

March 2nd, 2026

NPC: “The leadership would have to let wages rise significantly”

To boost China’s domestic consumption, stronger redistribution is needed, says Klaus Mühlhahn of Freie Universität Berlin. But Xi Jinping suspects that transfers foster a welfare mentality.

By Leonardo Pape

Interview | Consumption

February 26th, 2026

Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden: “People are talking to each other without a script now”

Adidas is one of the few German brands in China still posting growth. CEO Bjørn Gulden – who also joined Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s delegation to China – explains what has changed.

By Helene Bubrowski

Opinion | Chinese New Year

February 12th, 2026

Lunar New Year: China unleashes the horses

The Year of the Horse is being celebrated with unusual extravagance. Why Beijing is extending the holidays – and why anything goes when it comes to tapping the “spirit of dragon and horse” (龙马精神).

By Johnny Erling

Feature | Economy

January 29th, 2026

Involution: Beijing strikes a sharper tone in the price war

New threats of punishment show how serious Beijing is in its fight against ruinous competition. The anti-involvement campaign is also included in the new five-year plan.

By Jörn Petring

Feature | Consumption

January 14th, 2026

Localization: How Adidas relies on "Styled by China" instead of "Made in China"

Adidas has successfully transformed its China strategy. Local designers are given more freedom and create greater emotional brand loyalty with so-called guochao elements. But the recipe is not a sure-fire success.

By Fabian Peltsch

News | Travel industry

January 14th, 2026

Monopoly abuse: Market supervisory authority launches investigation against Trip.com

The Chinese market supervisory authority is launching an investigation into Trip.com. The online travel company is alleged to have abused its market power with coercive clauses, among other things.

By Fabian Peltsch

News | Consumption

November 4th, 2025

China business: Starbucks sells majority stake to Boyu Capital

The US coffee chain is divesting control of its most important foreign business: Boyu Capital is acquiring a majority stake in Starbucks China for around USD 4 billion. The store network is to be adapted more closely to local consumer habits.

By Fabian Peltsch

Interview | Society

September 14th, 2025

'If you don't want to do the job, ten others are standing by'

Hu Anyan delivered parcels and wrote a book about China's working reality, which will be available in German in a few weeks. In this interview, he talks about exploitation, the lack of respect for simple jobs – and why it is becoming more difficult to achieve professional fulfillment in China.

By Fabian Peltsch