Explanatory Notes on Main Statistical Indicators

Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goodsrefer 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 t he supply of consumer goods through various channels to households and institutions, and is very important for t he study on changes at the domestic retail market, and on economic cycles.

The retail sales of consumer goods include: (1) commodities old to urban and rural residents for t heir daily use and building materials sold to them for t he const ruction or repair of houses; (2) office appliances and supp lies sold t o institutions; (3) food and fuels sold to canteens of institutions, enterprises, schools, military units and to canteens of hotels and hostels that only serve t heir guests, and commodities produced by enterprises, institutions or state farms and sold directly to their employees or their canteens; (4) grain and non-staple food, clothing, daily articles and fuels sold to military personnel; (5) consumer goods sold to foreigners, overseas Chinese, and Chinese compatriots from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao during their stay in the mainland of China; (6) Chinese and western medicines, herbs and medical facilities purchased by residents; (7) newspapers, books and magazines directly sold to residents and social groups by publishers , new and old commemorative stamps, specials tamps , first-day covers, stamp 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 institutions; and (10) commodities sold by farmers to non-agricultural residents and social groups. Excluded under this heading are: raw materials, fuels, equipment, tools sold to enterprises, institutions and state farms for production purpose; commodities old to trade establishments for re-selling; commissioned sales at second-hand shops; operational income of urban public utilities; stamps sold at post offices; income of water, power, gas production and supply establishments from the supply of their products; and s ales of commodities among farmers.

Purchase, Sales and Stock of Commodities by Wholesale and Retail Tradesrefer to the total volume of commodities purchased, total volume of s ales and exports, and the stock of commodities by wholesale and ret ail enterprises (establishments) of different status of registration from domestic and overseas markets. This indictor plays an important role in promoting industrial and agricultural production, thriving market, stabilizing prices, ensuring market supply and meeting the needs of consumers. It also reflects the relationship among purchase, sales and stock of commodities in the circulation of goods and reveals the existing problems.

Total Purchases of Commoditiesrefer to the total value of purchases of commodities by t he enterprises (establishments) from other establishments or individuals (including direct import from abroad) for the purpose of re-selling, either with or without further processing of the commodities purchased. This indicator is us ed to show the total value of purchases of commodities by wholes ale and retail establishments from domes tic and overseas markets. The total purchases include: (1) agricultural and industrial products purchased from producers; (2) books, magazines and news papers 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 units, such as surplus materials purchased from government agencies, enterprises or institutions, commodities purchased from catering and service establishments, confiscated goods purchased from customs authorities or market management agencies, second-hand goods and wastes purchased from resident s; and (5) commodities directly imp ort ed from abroad. Excluded are commodities purchased by enterprises (establishments) for use in their own business operation, commodities obtained without buying or selling procedures, rejected commodities, etc.

Total Sales of Commoditiesrefer to value of commodities old 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 market sand export. The total sales include: (1) commodities sold t o urban and rural residents and social groups for their consumption; (2) commodities sold to establishments in industry, agriculture, construction, transportation, post and telecommunications, wholesale and retail trades, catering trade and public utility for their production and operation; (3) commodities sold to wholesale and retail establishments for re selling, with or without further processing; and (4) commodities for direct export to other countries. Excluded are selling of waste packaging materials used by the establishments (units) themselves, commodities transferred without buying or selling procedures, commission income from brokerage in trans actions whose settlement is directly handled by buyers and sellers, rejected commodities in the purchase, loss in commodities, etc.

Commodity Stock of Wholesale and Retail Enterprisesrefers to total commodities possessed by wholesale and retail enterprises (units) of various types of registration status at the end of the reference period, which reflects the commodity stock level of various wholesale and ret ail enterprises and the potential for market supply. It includes: (1) commodities located in storage, garages, counters, and shelves of operating units (such as sale stores, wholesale centers, and operating offices) of wholesale and ret ail enterprises; (2) commodities in the process of selecting, sorting, and packing; (3) commodities not arrived but recorded as purchase in t he account, i.e. commodities not arrived but payment receipts for the commodities from the sellers or the banks arrived; (4) commodities deposited in other p laces rather than places mentioned above, for instance: commodities in the hold of purchasers temporarily due t o 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 yet. Commodities not included as stock are those not owned by the enterprises (unit s), those allocated to financially in dependent factories rather than wholesale and retail enterprises for processing but not taken back yet, and finally those put in stock by wholesale and retail enterprises on behalf of t he state material reserves units.

For t he calculation of the value of commodities stock, the value is calculated at purchasing prices in agricultural goods purchasing units and wholesale units, and at the accounting prices in retail units.

Business Income of Catering Industryrefer to the total turnover of catering businesses, establishments or individuals, including retail sales and other services income. It reflects the operational and managerial conditions and development trend of catering businesses, establishment s and individuals in t his sector.

Retail Sales of Commodities in Catering Indus tryrefer to retail sales to residents and social groups by catering enterprises, establishments and individual, including: (1) various food sold after cooking and processing, such as: staple food, cooked dishes, cold and dressed dishes and so on. (2) re-selling commodities without further processing, such as: cigarettes, liquor, beverage, cooked food, fruit s and son on. (3) various food and other commodities sold in and ascent buffets with dependant accounting system.

Volume of Transaction of Consumption Goods on Market refers to the value of trans action of all goods at national consumption goods market, including both markets for farm and sideline products and for industrial consumption goods.