Brief Introduction

I. Main Content

Statistics in this chapter show the development of commodity circulation market and the operations of wholesale and retail trades, accommodation and restaurants. Including: total retail sales of consumer goods, commodity purchase, sales and inventory in wholesale and retail trades, and sales of commodities by category; operation situation of accommodation and restaurants; financial status of wholesale, retail, accommodation and restaurants enterprises above designated size; basic situation of chain businesses; basic situation and turnover of commodity transaction markets; and consumer confidence index.

II. Scope of Statistics

Adjustments were made to the indicators of total retail sales of consumer goods in 1993, 1997 and 2003. From 1993, the indicator did not cover agricultural means of production for farmers any longer; from 1997, it did not cover houses bought by residents any longer; from 2003, it did not cover goods sold by corporate manufacturing enterprises and industrial activity entities of various economic types to urban and rural residents (including enterprises' own employees) and social groups as well as retail sales by farmers to non-agricultural residents any longer.

As for standards for wholesale and retail trades, accommodation and restaurants above designated size, before 2008, for wholesale trades, the standard was annual sales of RMB 20 million and above; for retail trades, annual sales of RMB 5 million and above; for accommodation, star-rated hotels and non-star-rated hotels with annual turnover of RMB 5 million and above; for restaurants, annual turnover of RMB 2 million and above. After adjustments were made in 2008, the designated size is, for whole sale trades, annual main business income of RMB 20 million and above; for retail trades, annual main business income of RMB 5 million and above; for accommodation, star-rated hotels and non-star-rated hotels with annual main business income of RMB 2 million and above; for restaurants, annual main business income of RMB 2 million and above.

Survey of consumer confidence index covers 16 districts in the City.

III. Methods of Survey

The method of comprehensive survey was used for statistics of wholesale and retail trades, accommodation, and restaurants service enterprises above designated size; complete enumeration was used for chain businesses, and commodity trading markets; sample survey was used for wholesale and retail trades, accommodation, and restaurants corporate enterprises below designated size as well as self-employed businesses.

Statistics on consumer confidence index were obtained through computer-aided phone calls to urban and rural residents aged 18-65 who have been living in Beijing for more than half a year.

IV. Changes in Relevant Statistical Standards

Before 2010, the classification of small, medium and large-sized enterprises should comply with the standards in the Measures for Statistical Classification of Small, Medium and Large-sized Enterprises (Temporary) 2003. Since 2011, the classification of micro, small, medium and large-sized enterprises has been in line with the standards in the Measures for Statistical Classification of Micro, Small, Medium and Large-sized Enterprises (G.T.Z. [2011] No. 75) of the National Bureau of Statistics.

V. Adjustment to Historical Data

In accordance with the unified requirements and methods put forward by the National Bureau of Statistics, data for 1978- 2003 on total retail sales of consumer goods were revised with the “speed calculation method” according to the results of the first national economic census in Beijing. Data for 2004 are gathered from the first economic census. Data for 2005-2007 were revised with the “trend deviation method” in accordance with the second economic census results. Data for 2008 are gathered from the second economic census. Data for 2009-2012 were revised in accordance with the third economic census results. Data for 2013 were gathered from the third economic census.