Related News
Drive to sprinkle gold over rural China
By Zhang Fengming |
16:43 UTC+8 September 22, 2009
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
THE World Gold Council is planning an unprecedented campaign to encourage gold sales in China's rural market, as higher incomes and government stimulus programs push up demand.
"Rural areas showed better-than-expected demand for gold in the first half in China," said Gerry Chen, business development manager China of World Gold Council.
China is the only country in the world where gold jewelry demand has risen in the aftermath of the world financial crisis, the council said. Sales in Chinese mainland rose 9 percent in the first half, while global demand contracted 8 percent.
But demand in China was unevenly spread.
"Gold demand was flat in Beijing, Shanghai and other first-tier cities, while consumption in rural areas showed surprisingly strong growth," Chen said.
Chen declined to break down figures and said details of the rural marketing campaign have yet to be finalized.
Indeed, prosperity is returning to the hinterlands, where household spending and consumer sentiment is rising faster than big cities.
About 59 percent of rural households in a MasterCard survey said they plan to increase spending in the next 12 months, compared with 41 percent in big cities.
China has increased spending in rural areas as part of a comprehensive stimulus program to boost domestic consumption to counter a slump in exports, the traditional growth engine.
"The second half will maintain momentum," said Chen. "It was hustle-bustle at the Shenzhen International Jewelry Fair last week. Retailers stood in long lines to do business."
"Rural areas showed better-than-expected demand for gold in the first half in China," said Gerry Chen, business development manager China of World Gold Council.
China is the only country in the world where gold jewelry demand has risen in the aftermath of the world financial crisis, the council said. Sales in Chinese mainland rose 9 percent in the first half, while global demand contracted 8 percent.
But demand in China was unevenly spread.
"Gold demand was flat in Beijing, Shanghai and other first-tier cities, while consumption in rural areas showed surprisingly strong growth," Chen said.
Chen declined to break down figures and said details of the rural marketing campaign have yet to be finalized.
Indeed, prosperity is returning to the hinterlands, where household spending and consumer sentiment is rising faster than big cities.
About 59 percent of rural households in a MasterCard survey said they plan to increase spending in the next 12 months, compared with 41 percent in big cities.
China has increased spending in rural areas as part of a comprehensive stimulus program to boost domestic consumption to counter a slump in exports, the traditional growth engine.
"The second half will maintain momentum," said Chen. "It was hustle-bustle at the Shenzhen International Jewelry Fair last week. Retailers stood in long lines to do business."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
