Urban residents in Zhejiang Province, an economic powerhouse in east China, had their per-capita disposable income rise to 13,398 yuan (US$1,614) in the first 11 months of this year, 7.8 percent more than the year-earlier level after deducting the price factor.

Meanwhile, the per-capita expense for consumption averaged 9,787 yuan (US$1,179), up 7.4 percent over the year-earlier level.

According to the latest consumption survey conducted by the provincial statistics bureau, each urban resident in Zhejiang spent 568 yuan (US$68) in telecom services from January to November. By the end of November, every 100 urban households possessed 142.24 cell phones.

The survey also found that every Zhejiang urbanite spent 347 yuan (US$42) in buying motor vehicles in the 11-month period. By the end of November, every 100 urban families in the province owned 3.54 motor vehicles. The automobile ownership per 100 families was more than 10 for some economically developed cities, including the provincial capital Hangzhou and Wenzhou, a city known for its booming private economy.

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2004)