The average per-capita monthly income in Beijing reached 1,822 yuan (US$227) in July, the highest in China, the National Bureau of Statistics announced on Friday.

In the league of per-capita monthly income of urban residents for 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, Shanghai is second with just 12 yuan (US$1.5) less than Beijing.

However, in the listing of per-capita disposable income, Shanghai came in first with 1,625 yuan (US$203), 12.96 yuan (US$1.62) higher than Beijing, which ranked second.

However, with their incomes rising faster, Beijingers are more generous in spending. The per-capita income in Beijing exceeded 10,000 yuan (US$1,250) for the first time in the first half year. In the first seven months, Beijing per-capita consumption spending was 8,363 yuan (US$1,045), up 14 percent from the same period last year.

Provinces in the first tier of urban residents in July were Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Fujian.

(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2006)