The Chinese consumer confidence index rose to 97.1 points last
December from the 96.9 points recorded in November, ending a
successive four-month drop, said the National Bureau of Statistics
yesterday. The report attributes growing consumer satisfaction to
the government's measures to increase residents' income and protect
the rights and interests of individuals.
The increase showed that consumers remain confident about the
country's economical development.
The NBS reported that the consumer confidence index for January,
June and December of 2001 was rated at 94.9 points, 96.3 points and
96.4 points, respectively.
The report attributes growing consumer satisfaction to the
government's measures to increase residents' income and protect the
rights and interests of individuals.
In
addition, Beijing's successful bid for the 2008 Olympic Games and
China's entry into the World Trade
Organization last year also increased consumer confidence.
In
2001, consumer consumption remained stable, despite some turmoil in
China's stock market and negative effects on the economy from the
world economic slowdown.
The strong consumer confidence index last year commanded a high
rating of about 97 points.
The hike in last year's consumption index showed that consumer
confidence supported the country's consumption growth, which
contributed to national economic growth, according to the
report.
(China Daily January 10,
2002)