China enjoyed better-than-expected economic growth in 2025, hitting a record $1 trillion trade surplus in the first 11 months of the year, driven primarily by exports despite increased tariffs by the U.S.
The "Rat People" Phenomenon
Despite this, future economic growth remains a concern, with official statistics for November 2025 showing that the annual growth of total retail sales dropped to only 1.3%, its lowest since 2022.
In particular, consumption among Generation Z continues to slow down, driven by the increase of the self-described "rat people" across the country, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
The term refers to a large segment of the one in six unemployed Chinese aged 16 to 24 who express their frustration with the country's high youth unemployment and high-pressure work environment by retreating from the world and reducing their limited expenses to the bare minimum: streaming, mobile gaming, cheap food, and basic home appliances.
They stay in cramped rooms,order cheap delivery, avoid socializing, and spend long hourson their phones in bed, jokingly calling it a "rat's nest."
The Long-Term Impact of Low-Desire Living
Tan Gangqiang, a psychology consultancy director in Chongqing, noted in an interview with the Lianhe Zaobao that compared to the similar trend among Chinese youth "lying flat" in the past, the "rat people" carry a deeper sense of frustration.
