Domestic travellers spent 166.9 billion yuan (US$23.13 billion) during one of China's longest breaks, the May Day holiday, for a rise of 13.5 per cent from pre-pandemic levels, government data showed on Monday, but expenditure per head lagged 2019 rates. Boosting consumer confidence has presented a key challenge for Chinese authorities this year amid a declining property market, high youth unemployment and deflation pressures.The total spent over the May 1 to 5 holiday was 12.7 per cent higher than last year, shortly after China lifted COVID-19 curbs, and the tourism ministry recorded 295 million trips during the ... (full story)