Consumer tips

AS New Year’s Day of 2024 and the Spring Festival draw near, the Shenzhen Consumer Council has issued tips to guide consumers to have more rational approach to buying.

When it comes to travel plans, early planning is recommended, accompanied by a thorough review of cancellation and modification policies. Consumers should plan their transportation in advance, pay attention to optimal ticket booking times, and carefully comprehend the terms and conditions for cancellations and modifications before finalizing bookings for tickets, hotels, and tourist attractions.

When purchasing goods for the holidays, rationality should prevail, the consumer council said. Faced with various pre-New Year promotional activities, consumers are advised to make purchases based on their actual needs and preferably choose shopping platforms and merchants with complete qualifications and high credibility.

Consumers are also advised to exercise caution and not readily believe in promises made during livestreaming sessions.

Retail sales

SHENZHEN’S total retail sales of consumer goods are expected to exceed 1 trillion yuan (US$139.9 billion) this year, as the city’s consumer market continues its strong growth momentum, Yangcheng Evening News reported Tuesday.

The city’s retail sales of consumer goods climbed 7.3% year on year to reach 856.3 billion yuan during the January-October period, official data showed.

Online retail in Shenzhen continues to grow rapidly. Online retail sales in the first three quarters reached 140.6 billion yuan, up by 29.6% year on year. Meanwhile, the online retail sales of goods achieved by businesses with annual sales revenues of at least 5 million yuan have increased by 26.4% in the first 10 months.

Hotel bookings

THE “Christiano Ronaldo China Tour” has ignited a surge in demand for accommodations in Shenzhen. According to data from Meituan and Dianping, hotel bookings the week before and after the matches (Jan. 23-29, 2024) have increased ninefold compared to the same period last year.

The Universiade Sports Center in Longgang District, the venue for the matches scheduled for Jan. 24 and 28, has become the city’s hottest accommodation hub. Fans, predominantly from Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, are driving the booking frenzy, choosing to secure accommodations before obtaining tickets.