According to the data, in Q1 this year, Huai'an recorded a total retail sales revenue of RMB 54.496 billion, up 4.5% year on year. Notably, the retail sales of enterprises above the designated size amounted to RMB 14.917 billion, up 6.9%. By commodity category, the growth of basic living consumption demand accelerated, and the retail sales of grain, oil, food, and beverages increased by 37.3% and 30.9% respectively; upgraded consumer demand released vitality, cosmetics increased by 65.1%, and books, newspapers, and magazines increased by 52.3%; health consumption performed well, with Chinese herbal medicines and patent medicines increasing by 35.9%. E-commerce accelerated, with online retail sales increasing by 31.8%.

The city's consumer price index rose by 0.9% year on year. Among a total of eight major categories of commodities and services, seven experienced a year-on-year rise in prices, while one saw a decline. Among them, the prices of "other supplies and services," "healthcare," "daily necessities and services," "education, culture, and entertainment," "clothing," "food, tobacco, alcohol, and catering," and "transportation and communication" increased by 17.9%, 5.0%, 2.7%, 1.1%, 0.7%, 0.4%, and 0.3%, respectively; housing prices fell by 1.4%. Among the prices of the "food, tobacco, alcohol, and catering" category, the prices of freshwater fish, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruit increased by 17.3%, 11.7%, and 2.1%, respectively, while the prices of pork, baijiu, and grain decreased by 11.5%, 5.1%, and 1.2%, respectively.