Consumption expands in Shanghai during May Day holiday

SHANGHAI - Tourists to Shanghai and their consumption increased by 13.5 percent and 15.7 percent year-on-year respectively during the first three days of May Day holiday, local authorities said Saturday.

Over 2.78 million tourists spent some 4.38 billion yuan ($650 million) in the city during the first three days of May, according to Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce.

The sales of the city's retail and catering business jumped by 11.8 percent year-on-year to around 3.65 billion yuan.

During the holiday, a number of products debuted at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai last year came on the city's market.

The first CIIE, the world's first import-themed national-level expo, saw participants from a total of 172 countries, regions and international organizations and more than 3,600 enterprises.