Guangdong continues to top retail stats

Guangdong province has ranked first in total retail sales of consumer goods in China for 36 consecutive years since 1983.

Retail in the province grew from 1.37 billion yuan ($193.09 million) in 1950 to 7.99 billion yuan in 1978 before hitting 3.95 trillion yuan last year, according to the provincial statistics bureau.

The Engel coefficient, a measure of food expenditure as a proportion of total household spending, last year dropped by 35 and 25.1 percentage points from 1978 to 31.6 percent and 36.6 percent, respectively, for urban and rural areas in the province.

This drop indicates higher incomes for residents and a development of the province's consumption structures after the country's reform and opening-up.

Car ownership per 100 households stood at about 43 units at the end of last year.

As new retail modes develop rapidly, Guangdong also now occupies the top spot in online retail.

Online retail sales in the province reached 1.89 trillion yuan last year, accounting for 21 percent of total national online retail sales, according to the bureau.