As a result of strong, steady economic development, per capita annual disposable income in 15 cities in the Yangtze River Delta surged 9 to 17 percent last year, reports the Statistics Bureau of Shanghai Municipality.

Wuxi, Suzhou and Zhenjiang, all in Jiangsu Province, led the pack with rises of 16.6, 16.4 and 15.2 percent, respectively. Shanghai's growth rate was ranked sixth, at 12.2 percent.

Per capita disposable income in 11 of the 15 cities topped 10,000 yuan (about US$1,200) in 2003. Only eight cities reached this level in 2002.

Shanghai, with average disposable income of 14,867 yuan (US$1,798) per person, was ranked in first place. Ningbo residents came in second, with 14,277 yuan (US$1,726), and Shaoxing was third, with 13,535 yuan (US$1,637). Ningbo and Shaoxing are located in Zhejiang Province.

Shanghai residents also report the highest annual per capita living expenses, averaging 11,040 yuan (US$1,335). Ningbo, Hangzhou, Shaoxing and Suzhou follow, with living expenses of 10,463 yuan, 9,950 yuan, 9,305 yuan and 9,272 yuan, respectively.

Notably, the proportion spent on food decreased while service expenditures edged up. Average expenditure on culture and life services by Shanghai residents jumped 11.1 percent year-on-year to hit 3,369 yuan.

Average spending on family electrical and electronic appliances climbed to 1,021 yuan in Shanghai, a rise of 15.9 percent over the preceding year. Mobile phones, DVD players, music centers and personal computers are becoming common consumer goods.

The Engels coefficient, an indicator of a household's standard of living, declined in all 15 cities in 2003, with the ratio of food spending to overall household expenses in ten of the cities dropping below 40 percent. A lower figure indicates that a family has more money to spare for items besides necessities.

(China.org.cn by Wang Zhiyong February 19, 2004)