Explanatory Notes on Main Statistical Indicators
Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods refer to the sum of retail sales of commodities sold by wholesale
and retail trades, catering services, publishing, post and telecommunications
and other service industries to urban and rural households for household
consumption and to social institutions for public consumption. Retail sales of
consumer goods include:
1) Sales sold by
wholesale and retail trades to urban and rural households for household
consumption and to social institutions for public consumption.
a) of
commodities to urban and rural households;
b) of
commodities to foreigners, overseas Chinese and Chinese compatriots from
c) of
commodities to government agencies, institutions, social organizations,
military and armed police units, and commodities to enterprises in the form of
retail sales. More specifically, they include: office facilities and articles
for non-production purposes such as communications equipment, computing equipment
and instruments, TV and network equipment, printing and copying equipment,
audio-visual equipment and instruments, paper, notebooks, stationeries,
furniture, electric appliances, knitwear, sanitation and cleaning articles,
cultural and sport articles, articles for prizes, souvenirs, etc.; transport
vehicles and fuels for employees; materials, spare parts and tools for the
maintenance of office facilities; equipment, fuels, materials and food for
winter heating or summer cooling purposes; articles and equipment for teaching
purpose; Chinese and western medicines and medical equipment and facilities
purchased by non profit-making medical institutes; non-specialized work safety
articles; cooking utensils, tableware, equipment, cleaning articles, food and
fuels purchased by in-house cafeterias; clothes and personal articles purchased
by military or armed police units for their officials and soldiers; and other
equipment and articles for non-production purposes.
2) Sales of stable
food, cooked dishes, beverages, tobaccos and other articles by catering units.
3) Sales of books,
newspapers, magazines, audio-visual products and post products by publishing,
post and telecommunications departments to urban and rural households and to
enterprises, institutions, military and armed police units.
4) Sales of food,
beverages, tobaccos, clothing, hats, footwear, articles for daily use,
medicines, medical and health articles, work of art, handicrafts, toys, funeral
articles and other articles by other service industries.
Purchase, Sales and Stock of Commodities by Wholesale and
Retail Trades refer to the total volume of
commodities purchased, total volume of sales and exports, and the stock of
commodities by wholesale and retail enterprises (establishments) of different status
of registration from domestic and overseas markets. This indicator reflects the
relationship among purchase, sales and stock of commodities in the circulation
of goods and reveals the existing problems.
Total Purchases of Commodities
refer to the total value of purchases of commodities by 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 used to show
the total value of purchases of commodities by wholesale and retail
establishments from domestic and overseas markets. The purchases include: (1)
agricultural and industrial products purchased from producers; (2) books,
magazines 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
units, such as surplus materials purchased from government agencies,
enterprises or institutions, commodities purchased from hotels and catering
services establishments, confiscated goods purchased from customs authorities
or market management agencies, second-hand goods and wastes purchased from
residents; and (5) commodities directly imported 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 Commodities
refer to value of commodities sold by the establishments to other
establishments and individuals (including direct export to abroad). This
indicator is used to show the total value of sales of commodities at domestic
markets and export. The sales include: (1) commodities sold to 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, hotels and catering services,
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 abroad. 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 transactions for which settlement is
directly handled by buyers and sellers, rejected commodities in the purchase,
loss in commodities, etc.
Total Stock of Commodities refers to total commodities possessed by wholesale and retail
enterprises (units) of various types of registration status at the end of the reference
period, reflecting the commodity stock level of various wholesale and retail
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 centres, and operating
offices) of wholesale and retail enterprises; (2) commodities in the process of
being selected, sorted, and packed; (3) commodities not arrived but recorded as
purchase in the account, i.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 above, for 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 yet. Commodities not included as
stock are those not owned by the enterprises (units), commodities on commission
for processing but not yet delivered, imported commodities of agency of foreign
trade enterprise but not yet delivered to ordering units and finally those put
in stock on behalf of the state material reserves units.
Business Revenue of Hotels and Catering Services refers to revenue
received from providing services or selling commodities by corporate
enterprises and establishments engaged in hotels and catering services,
including income from hotels, from catering services, from selling of
commodities and from other services. Income from hotels refers to income of
corporate enterprises and establishments engaged in hotels and catering
services by providing lodging services. Income from catering services refers to
income of corporate enterprises and establishments engaged in hotels and
catering services by providing catering services, including selling of cooked
or prepared foods such as staple food, cooked dishes or cold dishes. Income
from selling of commodities refers to income of corporate enterprises and
establishments engaged in hotels and catering services by selling commodities
(including value-added tax) that accompany the services they provide. Income
from other activities refers to income received other than income from hotels,
catering services or selling of commodities, such as income from providing
recreation, fitness or business services.