Consumer spending bounced back in August after a tepid July, according to the China Beige Book’s survey of Chinese businesses released Thursday.

All five categories — apparel, automotive, food, furniture and appliances and luxury — saw a marked increase in sales this month, versus July, the report said.

That’s based on a survey conducted Aug. 17 to 25 of 1,300 businesses, the majority of which were not state owned.

Retail sales rose by a muted 2.5% in July from a year ago, adding to concerns about China’s future economic growth. The National Bureau of Statistics had also released retail sales from services on a year-to-date basis, which was up 20.3% from a year ago.

In August, “the Services sector ‘revenge spending’ basket saw continued strength, with travel and chain restaurants maintaining their high growth momentum and sales jumping in hospitality,” the China Beige Book report said.

Domestic travel has seen a surge of activity this summer. In a report Monday, Nomura analysts found the seven-day moving average of domestic flights remained more than two times greater than what it was in August 2019.

The China Beige Book survey also found that corporate borrowing surged as cost of capital declined.

That contrasts with July credit data that showed a slump in demand from households and businesses that month to borrow money for the future.

Other data for July have depicted a dismal picture. In a report distributed on Aug. 15, JL Warren Capital estimated Louis Vuitton

sales in mainland China fell by 5% to 10% in July — the first year-on-year decline so far his year.

The month-to-date or August “decline has accelerated but could narrow as Chinese V-Day on August 22 approaches,” the report said.

The Chinese version of Valentine’s Day, called the “Qixi Festival,” is typically celebrated by giving gifts and going out for dinner.