Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods in August 2015

In August 2015, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 2,489.3 billion yuan, up by 10.8 percent year-on-year (nominal growth rate. The real growth rate was 10.4 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 1,125.7 billion yuan, increased 8.0 percent.

From January to August, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 19,080.9 billion yuan, up by 10.5 percent year-on-year. Of the total, the retail sales of consumer goods of units above designated size was 8,857.6 billion yuan, increased 7.4 percent.

In terms of different areas, the retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas was 2,152.8 billion yuan in August, up by 10.6 percent, year-on-year; while that in rural areas was 336.5 billion yuan, up by 11.9 percent, year-on-year. From January to August, the retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas was 16,437.5 billion yuan, up by 10.3 percent year-on-year; while that in rural areas was 2,643.4 billion yuan, up by 11.7 percent.

In terms of different consumption patterns, the catering services in August gained 275.2 billion yuan, up by 12.4 percent, year-on-year. The retail sales of goods gained 2,214.1 billion yuan, up by 10.6 percent. From January to August, the catering services gained 2,034.9 billion yuan, up by 11.7 percent, year-on-year; the retail sales of goods gained 17,046.0 billion yuan, up by 10.3 percent.

The retail sales amount of goods of units above designated size in August was 1,051.6 billion yuan, up by 7.9 percent year-on-year. From January to August, the retail sales amount of goods of units above designated size was 8,317.6 billion yuan, up by 7.5 percent year-on-year.

From January to August, the national online retail sales of goods and services was 2,240.1 billion yuan, increased 36.5 percent year-on-year. Of which, the online retail sales of goods was 1,865.3 billion yuan, increased 35.6 percent, accounting for 9.8 percent of the total retail sales of consumer goods; the online retail sales of services was 374.8 billion yuan, increased 41.1 percent. Of the online retail sales of goods, the food, clothing and other commodities went up by 41.3 percent, 27.3 percent and 38.8 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 of Goods and Services: refers to the sales of goods and services got through public online trading platform (including self-built websites and third-party platform). Online retail sales of goods and services = online retail sales of goods + online retail sales of services.

The total retail sales of consumer goods includes online retail sales of goods, excludes online retail sales of services.

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 2014 was revised. The revised figures and figures in August 2015 are as follows:

5. Data of the total retail sales of consumer goods in 2013 was revised according to the results of the Third National Economic Census, and data of the total retail sales of consumer goods in 2014 was adjusted accordingly.