China's urban residents are generally satisfied with the present
prices of goods and their expectations for future prices are
optimistic, according to the latest survey conducted by the
People's Bank of China.
The survey of urban residents with deposits in the first quarter
showed that the satisfaction index was minus 9.1 percent, up 3.3
percent over the previous quarter.
Of the people surveyed, 22.1 percent said that "prices are too
high to be accepted", down 2.4 percent from the previous quarter,
and 13 percent thought that prices were "satisfactory", up 0.9
percent.
The survey also showed that people were generally optimistic
about future prices. Up to 28.8 percent of the interviewees
predicted that prices would rise, down 12.9 percent from the
previous quarter, and down 0.4 percent from the previous year.
10 percent believe that prices would drop, up 5.7 percent from
the previous quarter, and up 0.3 percent from last year.
The satisfaction index in relation to current incomes increased
by 7.8 percent to 22.1 percent, and the confidence index for future
incomes reduced by 2.5 percent to 19 percent, up 1.8 percent from
the previous year.
(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2006)