China Commodity Sales in Home Market Increase

The total retail sales of consumer goods in 2000 were 3,415.3 billion yuan, up 9.7 percent over the previous year, with a real growth of 11.4 percent if price factor was deducted.

Of the total, the retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas reached 2,111 billion yuan, and the retail sales of consumer goods at and below county level were 1,304.3 billion yuan, up by 10.6 and 8.3 percent respectively, according to the Statistical Communique of the People's Republic of China on the 2000 National Economic and Social Development released Wednesday.

In terms of different industries, the sales of the wholesale and retail trades were up 12.1 percent, the sales of the catering industry were up 17.3 percent, while the sales of other industry were down by 0.3 percent.

Transactions at the market for means of production became brisk. The total sales of means of production by wholesale and retail enterprises above designated size were 1,580.8 billion yuan, up by 23.7 percent.

The economic efficiency of wholesale and retail enterprises above designated size was improved. In the first 11 months of 2000, the net sales income reached 2,398.2 billion yuan, up 17.3 percent over the same period last year. Of this total, the growth of wholesale trade was 18.5 percent, and that of retail trade was 11. 6 percent. The profits made stood at 24.8 billion yuan, an increase of 1.2 folds.

Of the total, the growth of wholesale trade was 1.3 folds and that of retail trade was 25.6 percent. However, due to the rise of operation cost, the gross profit margin was only 7.93 percent, down by 0.4 percentage points. The point brought from the main business of enterprises was up 14.2 percent.






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