Consumer base in People's Republic of China more narrow than initially thought.

(PRWEB) March 21, 2004 --Research and Markets announces the addition of this new report entitled "China's Consumer Market - An Overview" to its offerings.

This overview guide to China's consumer market provides an analysis of the PRC's consumer incomes, location and retail sales revealing that the consumer base is more narrow than may be first thought.

China's highest-spending consumers are concentrated in the country's southern and eastern coastal cities, where average per capita retail sales exceed RMB10,000 (US$ 1,208). As wealth begins to spread out from the major cities to surrounding areas, so the development of retailing is expected to follow in a similar way to that which has been seen in the cities. However, more out-of-town complexes are also likely to be developed, designed increasingly for those consumers with access to a private vehicle.

China has seen dramatic urbanisation during the past five decades, as cities have become the economic backbone of the country. Government statistics indicate that the number of cities has grown from 193 in 1979 to 668 in 1997. The bulk of the newly emerging cities can be attributed to the rapid development of counties since China adopted its economic reform policy in 1978.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of urban areas, a critical economic index, has been growing at a stunning speed, annually reaching 18% during the 1988 to 1996 period. In 1997, 34 out of 226 cities at the prefecture level or higher achieved an RMB 20 billion GDP or higher.

For a complete index of this report click on http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/54102

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