CCTV News: On March 6, various economic data were released, indicating a steady improvement in several indicators. Additionally, numerous highlights and achievements were reported in fields such as technological innovation and resource exploration, showcasing a vibrant atmosphere throughout China this spring.
According to the China General Chamber of Commerce, the retail prosperity index for March stands at 50.2%, representing a month-on-month increase of 0.1 percentage points, thus reflecting a steady rise in consumer market vitality. By industry, the leasing business index stood at 51.4%, up 0.3 percentage points, while the e-commerce business index reached 50.1%, rising 0.8 percentage points from February.
The latest data from the State Taxation Administration indicates that since the implementation of the policies aimed at the large-scale renewal of equipment and the trade-in of consumer goods, as of February this year, the total amount of machinery and equipment procured by enterprises increased by 5.9% year-on-year, while the procurement of digital equipment rose by 15.4%. This trend demonstrates a steady advancement in updating corporate equipment. Additionally, the efforts in trade-in of consumer goods have shown notable results, with retail sales for household appliances and furniture rising by 28.6% and 18.6% year-on-year, respectively. Sales of new energy vehicles have increased by 45% compared to the previous year.
On March 6, it was understood from State Power Investment Corporation Limited that Chinese-developed 120-ton electric mining trucks officially entered large-scale utilization. This milestone marks the widespread application of this type of electric vehicle in the domestic open-pit mining sector. Under comparable conditions, these trucks consume less energy than their diesel counterparts, playing a significant role in advancing the green and energy-saving objectives of open-pit mining.
Additionally, on the same day, China National Offshore Oil Corporation reported a high-yield oil and gas flow from the Weizhou 10-5 oil and gas field in the Beibu Gulf of China. An exploratory well, drilled nearly 5,000 meters underwater, encountered an oil and gas pay zone of 283 meters. The well is expected to produce approximately 370,000 cubic meters of natural gas and 102 tons of crude oil per day. This exploration discovery in the Beibu Gulf Basin will contribute to ensuring a stable supply of oil and gas resources in China.