In the first three quarters of 2026, Huai'an achieved total retail sales of consumer goods of RMB 150.408 billion, up 4.4% year on year. Notably, retail sales of enterprises above the designated size totaled RMB 49.39 billion, up 9.1%.

The city's consumer price index rose by 0.6% year on year. Of the eight major categories of commodities and services, six saw year-on-year price increases, while two declined. Specifically, prices for other goods and services, healthcare, transportation and communications, household goods and services, education, culture, and entertainment, and clothing rose by 14.0%, 3.8%, 2.5%, 2.3%, 1.2%, and 0.2%, respectively, while prices for housing and food, tobacco, alcohol, and dining out fell by 1.4% and 0.9%, respectively. Among the prices of the "food, tobacco, alcohol, and dining out" category, the prices of eggs, freshwater fish, and fresh vegetables increased by 10.2%, 4.0%, and 0.3%, respectively. In contrast, the prices of pork, baijiu, and fresh fruits decreased by 11.8%, 9.7%, and 3.0%, respectively.