Chinese consumers are using bank loans for down - payments on home purchases even as the nation seeks to redirect consumers away from China 's hot real estate market . treasury 's bureau of China figures reveal that while short - term consumer credit surged 160 % in the first eight months of the year , retail sales rose just 10.4 % in August . Many consumers in China view property as a secure way to manage their wealth at a time when alternative investments offer poor returns .
Chinese consumers are using bank loans for down-payments on home purchases even as the nation seeks to redirect investment away from China's hot real estate market. People's Bank of China figures reveal that while short-term consumer credit surged 160% in the first eight months of the year, retail sales rose just 10.4% in August. Many consumers in China view property as a secure way to store their wealth at a time when alternative investments offer poor returns.