More Individuals in Changsha Have Cars

Individuals in this capital city of central China's Hunan Province had 59,600 cars at the end of last year, according to a survey.

The figure has risen at an average rate of 1,000 per month since the beginning of this year.

At the end of 2000, the number of motor vehicles for civilian use rose 19.92 percent from the previous year to 93,727, with private cars accounting for 64 percent of the total.

In 2000 alone, 38,000 motor vehicles were sold in the city, more than double the figure for the previous year. The figure for 2000 included 1,4000 cars, with a total turnover of nearly 1.78 billion yuan (214.5 million US dollars).

With people's consumption concept changing and their living standards improving, spending on travel has become a new hot spot for local people.

Average annual wages of in-service workers and staffers in Changsha topped 10,000 yuan last year, up 1,500 yuan from the previous year. Per-capital disposable earnings of urban residents exceeded 8,000 yuan, 700 yuan more than in the previous year.

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