Henan's total social consumption in the first three quarters reached 1,752.361 billion yuan in September, up 10.4% from August

Dahe Daily reporter Wang Xinchang

In July and August, Henan suffered from the dual impact of the disaster and the epidemic, and the consumer goods market in the province was seriously impacted, and the growth rate of total retail sales of social consumer goods was lower for two consecutive months. On October 28, a reporter from Dahe Daily learned from the Henan Provincial Bureau of Statistics that in the first three quarters, the total retail sales of social consumer goods were 1,752.361 billion yuan, an increase of 11.1% year-on-year, down 1.2 percentage points from January to August. It is worth mentioning that in September, the total retail sales of consumer goods in the province increased by 7.5% over the same period in 2019, an increase of 10.4 percentage points over August.

Figure: In September, Henan's total social consumption grew rapidly

The data shows that the short-term decline in the consumer goods market in the province has been reversed. In the first half of this year, the province's consumer goods market recovered month by month, and the total retail sales of social consumer goods increased from 7.6% in March to 8.0% in June compared with the same period in 2019. Affected by the torrential rains, the total retail sales of consumer goods in the province in July increased by 2.3% compared with the same period in 2019, down 5.7 percentage points from June. Under the combined impact of the torrential rain disaster and the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the total retail sales of consumer goods in the province in August fell by 2.9% compared with the same period in 2019, down 5.2 percentage points from July. With the in-depth promotion of post-disaster reconstruction, the continuous consolidation of the epidemic prevention and control situation, and the rapid reversal of the decline in the consumer goods market, in September, the total retail sales of consumer goods in the province increased by 7.5% over the same period in 2019, an increase of 10.4 percentage points over August.

The gap between Henan's consumer goods market and the whole country has gradually narrowed. In the first quarter, the first half of the year and the first three quarters, the total retail sales of consumer goods in the province increased by 0.1%, 3.9% and 3.4% respectively over the same period in 2019, which were 8.5, 5.1 and 4.6 percentage points lower than the national average.

From the perspective of urban and rural areas, the urban market has grown rapidly. In the first three quarters, retail sales in the urban market increased by 11.3% over the same period last year; increased by 3.3% over the same period in 2019, down 0.6 percentage points from the first half of the year. Among them, the urban area increased by 10.7% year-on-year, an increase of 1.4% over the same period in 2019. Retail sales in the rural market increased by 10.5% over the same period last year; up 3.5% from the same period in 2019, down 0.2 percentage points from the previous half.

Industry: Catering revenue is growing rapidly

In terms of consumption patterns, the recovery trend of commodity retail continues, and the catering income grows rapidly, but it still does not reach the level of normal years. In the first three quarters, retail sales of goods increased by 10.3% over the same period last year and 4.8% over the same period in 2019. Food and beverage revenue increased by 19.0% over the same period last year and still decreased by 7.9% compared with the same period in 2019.

Area: Kaifeng, Zhumadian, Zhoukou, Xinxiang, Luohe and other places recovered relatively quickly

In terms of regions, the vast majority of the market size of the prefecture and city has recovered to above the level of 2019. In the first three quarters, the total retail sales of social consumer goods in the vast majority of provinces and municipalities and the Jiyuan Demonstration Zone increased compared with the same period in 2019. Among them, Kaifeng, Zhumadian, Zhoukou, Xinxiang, Luohe and other places recovered faster, increasing by 7.2%, 6.4%, 6.0%, 5.6% and 5.3% respectively over the same period in 2019, respectively, faster than the province's 3.8, 3.0, 2.6, 2.2 and 1.9 percentage points.

Highlight 1: The urban and rural markets have recovered synchronously, and the rural market has grown rapidly.

In September, the province's urban market retail sales above designated size increased by 0.5% over the same period last year, an increase of 12.2 percentage points over August; the rural market retail sales above designated size increased by 10.5% year-on-year, an increase of 13.7 percentage points over August. The growth rate of retail sales above designated size in the rural market is 10.0 percentage points higher than that in the urban market.

The growth rate of commodity retail and catering revenue has turned from negative to positive.

In September, the province's retail sales of goods above designated size increased by 0.8% over the same period last year, an increase of 11.1 percentage points over August, and the year-on-year decline in retail sales of goods in July and August was reversed. Food and beverage revenue increased by 3.7% year-on-year, up 28.1 percentage points from August.

Retail sales of most commodity categories increased year-on-year, and the growth rate was higher than that of the previous month.

In September, among the 23 categories of wholesale and retail goods above designated size, the retail sales of 12 types of goods increased year-on-year, an increase of 9 categories compared with August, and the growth rate of retail sales of 21 types of goods increased from the previous month. First, the steady and rapid growth of daily necessities. Retail sales above designated size for grain, oil, food, beverages, tobacco and alcohol, and daily necessities increased by 10.2%, 3.4%, 23.5%, and 1.6% respectively over the same period last year, respectively, an increase of 4.8, 1.5, 14.9, and 7.2 percentage points over August; clothing, shoes, hats, needles, and textiles fell by 1.0% year-on-year, and the decline rate was narrowed by 21.3 percentage points over the previous month. Second, the rapid rebound of consumption upgrading commodities. Retail sales above designated size in gold, silver and jewelry, sports and entertainment products, electronic publications and audio-visual products increased by 7.4%, 7.4% and 8.2% respectively year-on-year, up 21.2, 7.4 and 21.8 percentage points respectively from August; cosmetics, books, newspapers, magazines and communication equipment fell by 5.5%, 0.5% and 27.0% respectively year-on-year, and the decline rate was narrowed by 13.8, 9.0 and 14.4 percentage points respectively compared with August. Third, household goods recovered relatively quickly. Retail sales above designated size for household appliances, audio-visual equipment, construction and decoration materials increased by 7.2% and 13.0% respectively year-on-year, up 15.7 and 19.7 percentage points respectively from August; furniture fell by 0.3% year-on-year, and the decline was 14.7 percentage points narrower than that in August. Fourth, the growth rate of petroleum retail sales has turned from negative to positive. Retail sales above designated size for petroleum and products increased by 6.9% year-on-year, up 12.0 percentage points from August.

Businesses are doing better than expected.

The results of the questionnaire on the disaster and the impact of the epidemic on wholesale and retail accommodation and catering enterprises above designated size carried out by the Provincial Bureau of Statistics from August 18 to 23 show that only 23.4% of enterprises expect retail sales to increase year-on-year in September, and only 14.8% of enterprises are expected to achieve a growth rate of 10% or more.

According to the actual filing of enterprises above designated size, the retail sales of 60.2% of enterprises in September increased from the same period last year. Among them, 47.7% of the enterprises with a growth rate of 10% or more. The actual operating conditions of the enterprise are significantly better than expected.

Source: Dahe News Editor: Hou Xiaoyong