Sanitary essentials, sports goods, organic food and communication gadgets figure high on the spending list of urban consumers, both during severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and now, as the disease is brought basically under control in China.

The spending shift is based on a belief that such items can help people lead safer and healthier liver, and help them ward offillness, according to the conclusion of a recent national survey by the Price Monitoring Center under the National Development and Reform Commission, reported Wednesday's China Daily.

The center's branches in 35 major cities across China conducted the survey throughout May, which includes responses of more than 3,000 people, said the English-language newspaper.

According to the survey, about 80 percent of urban residents planned to increase their expenditure on sanitary essentials. And some 35 percent of respondents said they were considering buying an electrical disinfecting appliance.

The SARS outbreak also caused many to rethink their eating habits. Nearly eight of the out 10 surveyed have increased their expenditure on vegetables, fruits, beverages and organic foodstuffs.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2003)