Extended consumption posing the theme of the 2007 "May Day" golden week has become the theme of the festival market. The total retail sales of consumer goods in the country totaled 3.2 trillion yuan in the golden week from the May 1 to May 23 this year, up 15.5% over the same period last year. Of which, the catering industry was up 17%, according to a monitoring by the Ministry of Commerce.

There are five salient major features with the national consumption in the "May Day" golden week this year:

First and foremost was a stable growth of commodity sales. Liquid crystal display (LCD), TV sets, fashion air-conditioner, jewelries, digital cameras, and seasonable fashion dresses were all popular with a large number of consumers;

Second, consumption ideas or consumption have been on rise continuously, with the consumption of "Health" and "Learning" having been upgraded to a new option;

Third, eating out, fruit picking and living in farmer's home, experiencing the natural and harmonious life on the farm have become the preferred holiday mode for urbanites;

Fourth, traditional and typical catering business remained brisk, and businesses of wedding reception and family feast were booming;

Fifth, basic daily essentials markets around China were a plentiful with rich varieties of strains.

By People's Daily Online