China's rapid economic growth has brought about double-digit
growth in the incomes for urban residents this year, said a report
of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), a major
government think tank.
The average per capita disposable income of urban residents is
likely to increase by 10.5 percent this year and by 10 percent next
year, said the CASS in analysis and forecast for 2007.
Rural residents are expected to see incomes up by 6.1 percent
this year and 6 percent next year.
According to the National Development and Reform Commission,
urban residents' per capita disposable income reached 5,997 yuan
(US4749.6) in the first half of this year, an increase of 10.2
percent. The disposable incomes of rural residents was 1,797 yuan
(US$224.6), up 11.9 percent.
The CASS report warned that China's serious unemployment
situation is likely to continue next year, with more than 15
million urban people unable to find jobs and more than 100 million
laborers in rural areas yet to be fully employed, widening the
rural-urban income gap.
(Xinhua News Agency December 9, 2006)