Consumer goods in Zibo, Shandong province, achieved total retail sales of 31.36 billion yuan ($4.47 million) in the first quarter, an increase of 8.3 percent year-on-year. This was 2.7 and 2.5 percentage points higher, respectively, than the provincial and national levels.
Specifically, retail sales of social consumer goods from enterprises above the designated size hit 11.1 billion yuan, up 11.1 percent. Retail sales of the wholesale, retail, accommodation and catering industries from enterprises above the designated sized jumped 9.5 percent, 15 percent, 16 percent, and 25.2 percent, respectively.
Zibo's catering industry experienced a boom in sales in the first quarter of 2023. [Photo/app.zbnews.net]
Recovering and expanding consumption should be given top priority, according to this year's government work report, and a raft of policies and measures have been launched by Zibo to spur consumption this year.
At the beginning of 2023, districts and counties in Zibo released funds in excess of 40 million yuan to spur consumption.
Consumption vouchers in multiple categories have been distributed. At the municipal level, 10 million yuan of retail and catering vouchers have been issued, followed by those in the automotive industry.
Thanks to the impact of such supportive policies and a robust business environment, Zibo's consumer market is bracing for further expansion so it can continue to meet the high-quality, personalized, and diverse demands of local residents.
