Explanatory Notes on Main Statistical Indicators

Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods  refer to the sum of retail sales of consumer goods sold by all sectors of the national economy to urban and rural residents and social groups. This indicator is used to show the supply of consumers goods through various channels to households and institutions, and is very important for the study on people's livelihoodon the purchasing power of consumer goods and on the circulation of money The retail sales of consumer goods include(1)commodities sold to urban and rural residents for their daily use and building materials sold to them for the construction or repair of houses; (2) office appliances and supplies sold to institutions; (3)food and fuels sold to canteens of institutions, enterprisesschoolsmilitary units and to canteens of hotels and hostels that only serve their guestsand commodities produced by enterprisesinstitutions or state farms and sold directly to their employees or their canteens(4)grain and non-staple foodclothingdaily articles and fuels sold to military personnel(5)consumer goods sold to foreignersoverseas Chineseand Chinese compatriots from TaiwanHong Kong and Macao during their stay in the mainland of China(6)Chinese and western medicinesherbs and medical facilities purchased by residents(7)newspapersbooks and magazines directly sold to residents and social groups by publishersnew and old commemorative stampsspecial stampsfirst-day coversstamp albums and other stamp-collection articles sold by stamp companies(8)consumer goods purchased and then sold by second-hand shops(9)stoves and other heating facilities and liquefied gas sold by gas companies to households and institutionsand (10)commodities sold by farmers to non-agricultural residents and social groups. Excluded under this heading areraw materialsfuelsequipmenttools sold to enterprises, institutions and state farms for production purpose; commodities sold to trade establishments for re-selling; commissioned sales at second-hand shops; operational income of urban public utilitiesstamps sold at post officesincome of waterpowergas production and supply establishments from the supply of their productsand sales of commodities among farmers

PurchaseSales and Stock of Commodities by Wholesale and Retail Trade  refer to the purchasesales and stock of commodities by wholesale and retail establishments of different status of registration (excluding individual sellers)

Total Purchases of Commodities  refer to the total value of purchases of commodities by the establishments from other establishments or individuals (including direct import from abroad )for the purpose of re-sellingeither with or without further processing of the commodities purchased. This indicator is used to show the total value of purchases of commodities by wholesale and retail establishments from domestic and overseas markets. The total purchases include(1)agricultural and industrial products purchased from producers(2)booksmagazines and newspapers purchased from distribution departments of the publishers(3)commodities purchased from wholesale and retail establishments of different status of registration(4)commodities purchased from other unitssuch as surplus materials purchased from government agenciesenterprises or institutionscommodities purchased from catering and service establishmentsconfiscated goods purchased from customs authorities or market management agenciessecond-hand goods and wastes purchased from residentsand (5) commodities directly imported from abroadExcluded are commodities purchased by establishments (units) for use in their own business operationcommodities obtained without buying or selling proceduresrejected commoditiesetc

Total Sales of Commodities  refer to selling of commodities by the establishments to other establishments and individuals (including direct export). This indicator is used to show the total value of sales of commodities at domestic markets and export. The total sales include(1)commodities sold to urban and rural residents and social groups for their consumption(2)commodities sold to establishments in industryagricultureconstructiontransportationpost and telecommunicationswholesale and retail tradescatering trade and public utility for their production and operation(3)commodities sold to wholesale and retail establishments for re-sellingwith or without further processingand(4)commodities for direct export to other countriesExcluded are selling of waste packaging materials used by the establishments (units) themselvescommodities transferred without buying or selling procedurescommission income from brokerage in transactions whose settlement is directly handled by buyers and sellersrejected commodities in the purchaseloss in commoditiesetc

Commodity Stock of Wholesale and Retail Enterprises refers to total commodities possessed by wholesale and retail enterprises(units)of various types of registration status at the end of the reference periodwhich reflects the commodity stock level of various wholesale and retail enterprises and the potential for market supply. It includes(1)commodities located in storagegaragescountersand shelves of operating units (such as sale storeswholesale centersand operating offices)of wholesale and retail enterprises(2)commodities in the process of selectingsortingand packing(3)commodities not arrived but recorded as purchase in the accounti.e.commodities not arrived but payment receipts for the commodities from the sellers or the banks arrived(4)commodities deposited in other places rather than places mentioned abovefor instance: commodities in the hold of purchasers temporarily due to the refusal of payment and commodities not taken back after going through the formalities(5)commodities entrusted to other units to sell but not sold yet(6)commodities purchased for other units but not delivered yetCommodities not included as stock are those not owned by the enterprises (units)those allocated to financially independent factories rather than wholesale and retail enterprises for processing but not taken back yetand finally those put in stock by wholesale and retail enterprises on behalf of the state material reserves unitsFor the calculation of the value of commodities stock, the value is calculated at purchasing prices in agricultural goods purchasing units and wholesale unitsand at the accounting prices in retail units

Volume of Business (Transaction Value) at Urban and Rural Free Market  refers to the value of all goods changed hands between sellers and buyersincluding farmersnon-agricultural residentsinstitutionsorganizationsenterprises and private peddlersat urban and rural free marketsIt is a comprehensive indicator used to show the size of the transaction at the free trade markets.