May 1, 2025

Happy Labor Day to everyone! I don't know how everyone spent this long holiday, but I, Grandpa, returned to my hometown, a small county city. One observation is that the current county city is becoming the commercial center and population gathering place for surrounding rural areas and towns. The population gathering is due to urbanization and considerations for children's education, as families are migrating towards urban areas as much as possible. The commercial center is a byproduct; after all, economic vitality exists where there are people.

Regarding the commercial center, I noticed a significant difference compared to twenty years ago, which is that the commercial center is gradually replacing the original pedestrian street model, or in other words, the market share is increasing. I speculate that one main reason is that the younger consumer group today is unwilling to brave the heat or cold to shop outdoors, and over time, the flow of people has shifted towards commercial streets.

Of course, the original shop model is still the mainstream of commerce in small county cities, but the entire commercial landscape is changing. However, I believe that the rise of the mall model is also squeezing small businesses; if you visit a few malls, you'll notice a severe homogenization, and the traces of capital operations are evident. Lastly, children are the main consumers.

As for the market situation, there’s nothing special to report, so today I’ll just share my observations and thoughts. Time flies, and it's already May. Fortunately, the market trend is becoming healthier, and it is expected to continue for two months, with a great opportunity to start the second half of the year's market in July, aiming to reach new heights in the second half of this year. Let's wait and see.

Wishing everyone a happy Labor Day.