According to Masaaki Kanai, the CEO of Ryohin Keikaku, despite the gloomy global economy the company plans to increase the number of its Muji stores in China to 30 by the end of 2010.

According to Beijing Statistics Bureau, as a result of stimulation by a series of domestic demand expanding and consumption promoting measures, Beijing's retail sales in the first quarter of 2009 reached CNY122.12 billion, an increase of 12.6% compared with the same period of last year.

According to statistics released by China's National Bureau of Statistics, due to factors such as the economic slowdown, decreased exports, and falling share prices, China's retail sales in the first two months of 2009 only increased by 15.2% year-on-year.

Construction recently commenced on Galleria, Chengdu's first upscale European upscale shopping mall.

Following the precept of Sir Jack Cohen, the founder of British retail colossus Tesco, Wal-Mart has announced massive price cuts for essential items in more than 100 of its retailing stores across China.

The Japan-headquartered online retailer Rakuten has jointly announced with President Chain Store Corporation, the operator of 7-Eleven in Taiwan, that the two companies would cooperate to integrate their virtual and physical retail channels.