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On the 22nd, the State Council Information Office held a press conference on the business work and operations in 2021. At the meeting, a reporter asked: How does the Ministry of Commerce see the recovery of the consumer market in the first half of the year? What are the highlights? What's the next trend? What measures will the Ministry of Commerce take to promote consumption in the next step?

In this regard, Zhu Xiaoliang said that since the beginning of this year, in the face of the complex and changeable domestic and foreign environment, the commercial authorities at all levels have resolutely implemented the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, strengthened work organization and coordination and overall planning, and taken multiple measures to stabilize and expand consumption. The market as a whole shows a steady recovery and continuous recovery, which plays an important role in supporting the stable recovery of the economy. In the first half of the year, the total amount of social retail increased by 23% year-on-year, and the contribution rate of consumption to GDP growth rebounded to 61.7%. Compared with 2019, the total amount of social zero in the first half of the year increased by 9%. Among them, the first quarter increased by 8.5%, the second quarter increased by 9.4%, and the second quarter increased by 0.9% compared with the first quarter.

Zhu Xiaoliang introduced that from the perspective of market highlights, there are four eye-catching aspects: First, the continued rapid development of mid-to-high-end consumption. For example, in the first half of the year, the retail sales of cosmetics and communication equipment of units above designated size increased by more than 25% over the same period in 2019. Imports of luggage, jewelry, and watches have doubled year-on-year. The second is the rapid growth of bulk consumption such as automobiles. In the first half of the year, automobile retail sales reached 2.2 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 30.4%, and its contribution to the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 13%. The third is to accelerate the recovery of cultural tourism consumption. Movie box office revenue has recovered to nearly 90% in the same period in 2019, railway and civil aviation passenger traffic has recovered to nearly 80%, and red tourism, rural tourism, and self-driving tours are booming. Fourth, green, healthy and smart consumption is highly favored. For example, new energy vehicle sales accounted for 9.4% of vehicle sales, and 5G mobile phone shipments accounted for 73.4% of mobile phone shipments.

Zhu Xiaoliang pointed out that there are still some outstanding problems in the current operation of the consumer market, such as unbalanced restoration and unstable foundation. As my country's economy continues to recover steadily, epidemic prevention and control have become more precise and effective, various policies and measures have taken effect, and residents' consumer confidence has gradually increased. It is expected that the overall consumer market will continue to develop in a positive direction.

Zhu Xiaoliang stated that the Ministry of Commerce will conscientiously implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, based on the new development stage, implement new development concepts, serve to build a new development pattern, firmly implement the strategy of expanding domestic demand, and promote the implementation of various measures to promote consumption in a better way The fundamental role of consumption in economic development can better meet the people's growing needs for a better life. In the next step, we will focus on the following aspects:

One is to further improve the policies and measures to promote consumption. While implementing the policies and measures that have been introduced to stabilize and expand automobile consumption, and boost bulk consumption, in accordance with changes in the situation and tasks, in-depth investigations and studies have been carried out, and a batch of new policies to expand domestic demand and promote consumption have been reserved.

The second is to enhance the function of urban consumer services. Accelerate the promotion of the cultivation and construction of international consumption center cities, and focus on the implementation of urban commerce promotion actions to better meet the quality and diversified consumer needs of urban residents.

The third is to increase the development of the rural market. Speed up the improvement of the county-level business system, promote the sustainable and healthy development of rural e-commerce, improve the backbone network of agricultural products circulation, and tap the potential of rural consumption.

The fourth is to expand the growth space of traditional consumption. Stabilize the bulk consumption of automobiles, home appliances, and household appliances, and promote faster and better recovery of the catering market.

Fifth, promote the accelerated development of new consumption. Support and encourage traditional commercial enterprises to accelerate digital and intelligent transformation, and promote a wider and deeper integration between online and offline.

Sixth, create a strong consumption atmosphere. Instruct all localities to organize various activities to promote consumption based on the prevention and control of the epidemic in accordance with local conditions, so as to prosper the city and business by festival, further stimulate market vitality and release consumption potential.