Chinese Consumer Goods Sales Slow Down in November

Sales of Chinese consumer goods slowed down in November, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Consumer goods sales totaled 310.78 billion yuan in November, 1.7 percent less than in October. Although the figure was a record low since January, it was 8.7 percent higher than the corresponding period last year.

The sales of consumer goods grew to 190.47 billion yuan in cities and 120.31 billion yuan in rural areas, up 9.7 percent and 7.2 percent respectively compared with the corresponding period in 1999.

Total retail and wholesale sales rose to 207.55 billion yuan, up 10.6 percent. Sales in the catering industry increased by 15.5 percent to 34.35 billion yuan.

There was increased demand in November for winter clothing owing to colder temperatures.

Household appliances and telecom equipment sales remained high thanks to the housing reform in cities and development in the telecom industry.

People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/