CRI听力：Measures to Boost Domestic Demand See Effects

Anchor: As part of efforts to deal with the global financial crisis, the Chinese government has adopted a series of measures to expand domestic demand. Figures released by the Ministry of Commerce reveal promising results nationwide.

Here is Xiaohong with the story. (www.hXen.com)

Reporter: Yao Jian, spokesman for the ministry of Commerce, says there have been noticeable preliminary effects since the government adopted policy measures for expanding domestic demand in the fourth quarter last year.

"Compared with the fourth quarter of last year, the steel price has increased 7.6 per cent. The price for coke has increased 14 per cent while iron ore prices are up 10.4 per cent. These figures indicted that there have been notable effects resulting from the government policy for expanding domestic demand and boosting economic growth."

Yao Jian added that entering the new year, consumer prices saw further declines, becoming generally more stable. The CPI in January increased 1 percent year on year. Although the CPI was up by 0.9 percent month on month from December 2008, it was the ninth month in a row that saw a fall in its growth rate.

The spokesman noted that market sales are experiencing relatively fast growth in early 2009 thanks to the two holidays, New Year's Day and Spring Festival. In January, the sales volume of 1,000 national key retailers increased 24.5 percent year on year in January.

During the same period, auto sales in the domestic market reached 735,500 units, an increase of 4.4 percent month on month for passenger cars, showing signs of recovery for two consecutive months as a result of the government's tax cut policies.

Yao Jian said the growth in retail sales volume is playing a major role in stimulating the economy. Moreover, service sectors also witnessed continued increases.

"As the market sales enjoyed more and more brisk momentum, there is also noticeable revenue growth in service sectors. During the Spring Festival season, industries of culture, tourism, education and telecommunications have all experienced a remarkable increase, showing a transformation in consumption of China's residents and the improvement of their living standard."

Ministry of Commerce spokesman Yao Jian believed that the country's economy would continue to benefit from various policy measures issued by the central government.

Xiaohong, CRI News.