Consumer vouchers boost consumption during National Day holiday in Shandong county

Consumer vouchers issued by the government of Ningyang county in Shandong province have fueled consumption during the recent National Day holiday, injecting new vitality into the county's economy.

These vouchers cover day-to-day needs at supermarkets, restaurants, and cultural tourism to help residents cut costs and get active in the economy.

“Thanks to these vouchers, our supermarket sales increased by 31 percent compared to the same period last year,” said Zhu Feng, general manager of Hualian Shopping Center in Ningyang.

During the National Day holiday, the Ningyang government distributed a total of over 500,000 yuan ($70,000) worth of vouchers for supermarkets and dining to residents, expecting to drive county-level consumption by over 3 million yuan from Oct 1 to 8.

Furthermore, the ongoing policy of trading in old household appliances for new ones has also stimulated the county's economic growth.

“The air conditioner I got had a 20-percent subsidy from the government, which is a very big discount,” said Ma Libo, a local resident in Ningyang who benefited from the policy. After his purchase, professionals came to his home to dispose of the old household appliances for him.

“Ningyang is committed to promoting consumption through various measures and building an interactive platform between consumers and businesses. From January to August this year, the county's retail sales of consumer goods above the quota increased by 34.3 percent year-on-year, ranking first in Tai'an,” said Xue Haitao, deputy director of the county's bureau of commerce. (Edited by Li Weiwei)