The percentage of services in Guangzhou urban residents' total purchases rose to 36.7% last year from 3.50% in 2005. Services have become an integral part of local residents' purchases, playing an increasingly important role driving consumption and bolstering domestic demand.

According to the Guangzhou Survey Team of the National Bureau of Statistics, purchases of services by Guangzhou urban residents have surged in recent years. In 2009, urban residents on average spent RMB 8,369 on services, surging 65.1% from the RMB 5,068 in 2005, with an average annual growth of 13.4%.

Surveys also show that the penetration rate of personal computers and mobile phones per 100 households rose from 94 and 241 to 124 and 252, respectively, from the end of 2006 to the end of 2009, while the penetration rate of private cars per 100 households jumped from six in 2005 to 19 in 2009.

(Translated by Guangzhou Association of Foreign Affairs Translators)