Better air quality cuts into sales of masks, purifiers

Sales of face masks and air purifiers - two of the hottest products last winter - have fallen this year as the air quality in northern China has improved.

In Beijing, the average concentration of PM 2.5 - hazardous fine particulate matter - decreased last year by 20.5 percent year-on-year to 58 micrograms per cubic meter.

Regions surrounding the capital have also seen improvements in air quality.