Brief Introduction

I. Main Contents

Data in this chapter reflect the development of commodity circulation，consumption, market operation, modernization of logistics on China’s domestic trade. Main contents include the basic conditions of the wholesale and retail trades, hotels and catering services above designated size; circulation of commodities (in operation and financial terms); total retail sales of consumer goods; turnover of large commodity transaction markets with transaction over 100 million yuan; development of chain stores of retail trades and catering services above designated size.

II. Scope of Statistics

Included in this chapter are chain enterprises, corporation enterprises and economic active establishments and self-employed individuals of wholesale and retail trades; hotels and catering services and large commodity markets with transaction value over 100 million yuan.

Based on results from the 2004 First Economic Census, adjustments have been made for total retail sales of consumer goods from 1993 to 2004. Total retail sales of consumer goods do not include means of agricultural production; purchase of housing by residents.

Criteria for wholesale and retail sale trades, hotels and catering services above designated size are as follows: wholesale trade, having 20 or more employees at year-end with annual sales over 20 million yuan; retail trade, having 60 or more employees at year-end with annual sales over 5 million yuan; hotels, certified hotels with star-ranking; catering services, having 40 or more employees with annual income over 2 million yuan.

III. Sources of Data

Data in this chapter are collected and processed in accordance with The Statistical Reporting Form System on Wholesale and Retail Trades, Hotels and Catering Services by the Department of Trade and External Economic Relations of the National Bureau of Statistics.

IV. Methods of Survey

Data on basic conditions for all corporate enterprises, chain operation of wholesale and retail trades, hotels and catering services above designated size are collected through comprehensive reporting form system. Data are reported to their next higher level. Data on enterprises and individual enterprises below the designated size are collected by sample surveys.