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Consumption stimulus plan takes initial effect

By Cai Muyuan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-05-06 17:27

In an effort to stimulate domestic consumption, the Ministry of Commerce has initiated various activities from May 1 to run untill November 30 this year to boost sales, the National Business Daily reported on Tuesday.

Related readings:  Consumption isn't what it's cranked up to be  Boosting consumption  Consumption is the key for sustainable growth  Waking up domestic consumption

The ministry has demanded carrying out holiday activities such as shopping festivals, travel festivals and carnivals.

According to a survey, during the Labor Day holiday, thousands of domestic retail enterprises achieved sales volume of 1.20 billion yuan, up 9.0 percent year-on-year.

The ministry is also urging expanding consumption on household appliances and furniture to promote the consumption of autos and agriculture machinery, and to improve the auto retail, maintenance and refueling service network.

Statistics from the ministry show household appliance sales of monitored enterprises rose 11.4 percent year on year during the Labor Day holiday. LCD TV sets, air-conditioners, refrigerators, 3G mobile phones and wireless Internet laptops were among the best-sellers. Stimulated by the government's preferential policies, sales of major auto sellers rose 9.2 percent.

Promoting cultural and travel consumption is also one of the ministry's top concerns. According to statistics, travel expenses during the Labor Day holiday exceeded 420 million yuan, an increase of 40 percent; food and beverage sales reached 42.26 million yuan, up 20.30 percent.