Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods in August 2017

In August 2017, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 3,033.0 billion yuan, up by 10.1 percent year-on-year (nominal growth rate. The real growth rate was 8.9 percent. The follows are nominal growth rates if there’s no additional explanation). Of the total, the retail sales of consumer goods of units above designated size was 1, 322.9 billion yuan, increased 7.5 percent.

From January to August, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 23,230.8 billion yuan, up by 10.4 percent year-on-year, stayed the same level over the first seven months of 2017. Of the total, the retail sales of consumer goods of units above designated size was 10,307.0 billion yuan, increased 8.6 percent.

In terms of different areas, the retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas was 2,616.9 billion yuan in August, up by 9.9 percent year-on-year; while that in rural areas was 416.1 billion yuan, up by 11.5 percent year-on-year. From January to August, the retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas was 19,942.8 billion yuan, up by 10.1 percent year-on-year; while that in rural areas was 3,288.0 billion yuan, up by 12.1 percent.

In terms of different consumption patterns, the catering services in August gained 336.0 billion yuan, up by 10.7 percent, year-on-year. The retail sales of goods gained 2,697.0 billion yuan, up by 10.1 percent. From January to August, the catering services gained 2,511.0 billion yuan, up by 11.1 percent, year-on-year; the retail sales of goods gained 20,719.8 billion yuan, up by 10.3 percent.

The retail sales amount of goods of units above designated size in August was 1,240.0 billion yuan, up by 7.5 percent year-on-year. From January to August, the retail sales amount of goods of units above designated size was 9,689.9 billion yuan, up by 8.6 percent year-on-year.

From January to August, the national online retail sales of goods and services was 4,251.1 billion yuan, increased 34.3 percent year-on-year. Of which, the online retail sales of physical goods was 3,210.1 billion yuan, increased 29.2 percent, accounting for 13.8 percent of the total retail sales of consumer goods; of the online retail sales of physical goods, food, clothing and other commodities went up by 25.4, 19.6 and 32.9 percent respectively.

Annotations:

1. Explanatory Notes

Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods: refers to the sales of physical commodity or the income of catering services sold or provided by enterprises (units) to individuals, social organizations for non-production and non-operation purposes.

Online Retail Sales: refers to the sales of goods and services got through public online trading platform (including self-built websites and third-party platform). Goods and services include physical goods and non-physical goods (such as virtual product, services). 

The total retail sales of consumer goods includes online retail sales of physical goods, excludes online retail sales of non-physical goods.

2.Statistical Coverage

The corporate enterprises, industrial activity units or self-employed individuals which retail goods or provide catering services. Enterprises (units) above designated size refer to those wholesale enterprises (units) with an annual revenue from primary business of 20 million yuan and above, those retail enterprises (units) with an annual revenue from primary business of 5 million yuan and above, and those hotel and catering enterprises (units) with an annual revenue from primary business of 2 million yuan and above.

3. Survey Methods

All enterprises (units) above designated size are surveyed, while the data of enterprises (units) below designated size are collected by sampling survey.

4. Month-on-Month Figure Revision

According to the auto-revision function of the seasonal adjustment model, the growth rate of the total retail sales of consumer goods since August 2016 was revised. The revised figures and figures in August 2017 are as follows: