China’s consumer sentiment is low, except for condoms.

By Richa Naidu

LONDON (Reuters) – ‌ Consumer companies ⁤and ‍economists⁤ have said⁢ sentiment in‍ China‍ is ⁤slower than ​expected, but that’s not stopping them from ‌buying more condoms, Durex ⁤maker Reckitt said on Wednesday.

Economic data ‌from China this month showed its post-pandemic surge was quickly fading, raising expectations that the ⁤government needs to bring out more stimulus measures to drive activity and bolster shaky ​consumer confidence.

British consumer goods giant Unilever said ⁣on Tuesday that China’s declining property ⁢market and exports had sent its consumer sentiment to a historic low,⁢ having earlier this year forecast a Chinese ⁢“consumption boom”.

Nonetheless, on Wednesday when Reckitt⁢ reported earnings results, it said like-for-like net⁤ revenue growth in its health​ business was 8.8%. ⁢The ⁤growth⁢ was led ⁣in part by ⁤its “Intimate Wellness” brands, which⁢ include K-Y lubricant, with improving performance in China.

Globally, the​ portfolio grew by high-single digits,‌ and in China Reckitt ⁢saw “the benefit of re-opening post COVID-related lockdowns.”

Despite a “little slower” ​recovery in China overall, sales of intimate wellness‌ products are ⁢higher.‍ CEO Nicandro Durante said that‍ firstly, Reckitt is launching⁣ innovations such as new materials for condoms, and second, people “are enjoying‌ the nightlife”.

Reckitt has a new Taicang, China-based production facility, according‌ to its ‌website, ​set to “produce our thinnest ‌Durex polyurethane condoms ⁤ever” for that market. ​

“The phase 2 Durex⁤ project construction is ‍about‍ to‌ get underway, with the ⁤facility set‍ to go into​ operation ⁤in January 2026,” ‌Reckitt’s website says. “The site will⁢ produce the thinnest Durex PU condoms ‍in history and will be committed⁣ to the continuous improvement of⁢ new‍ technologies for PU condoms.” ‍

(Reporting by Richa Naidu; editing by David Evans)

Lebron James’ ⁣son, Bronny, collapses ‍during practice while‍ Hunter Biden’s art is a hot commodity.

Hunter Biden’s much-anticipated court‌ date⁣ is set for Wednesday, but it’s‌ unclear if the judge will accept his plea deal.

Police are wrapping up their search in the home of suspected ‘Giglo Beach’ serial ‌killer.

The Grassroots activist group FreedomWorks joins ‌members of the House Freedom Caucus in calling on appropriators ​and GOP leadership to roll back current spending levels.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – New⁢ Zealand said on Wednesday it would boost its cyber defences by setting up ⁣a lead agency to make…

By Supantha Mukherjee, Martin Coulter and Sheila Dang ​(Reuters) -After 17 years with an iconic blue bird that came to symbolize the…

By Elizabeth Howcroft LONDON (Reuters) -Britain’s data regulator said on Tuesday it will examine Worldcoin, a project by OpenAI CEO⁢ Sam Altman…

By Candelaria Grimberg BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – A project by Argentine artist Santiago Barros​ uses artificial intelligence‍ to imagine what ⁣the children…