Chinese consumers have spent more time and money on their health
and outdoor activities in response to the severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) outbreak, reports the China Daily on Thursday.
A
survey launched by Horizon Research Group found that most consumers
in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou now consider health atop
priority when they buy goods.
The poll involved telephone interviews with 847 respondents in the
country's three major cities.
More than 87 percent of respondents said they would buy goods that
were good for their health.
"Products with extra health-related features will sell well in the
post-SARS period. They include air-conditioners that produce oxygen
and washing machines with disinfection functions," said Ling Chao,
a researcher from the company.
More than 23.4 percent of respondents in Beijing said they now
spend more money on healthcare products such as tonics. The figures
in Shanghai and Guangzhou are 18.6 percent and 17.8 percent
respectively.
Outdoor activities also grew in popularity in Beijing during and
after the epidemic. Every public park was filled with people
seeking fresh air, playing badminton or exercising on weekends.
Nearly 57 percent of respondents said they will continue regular
outdoor activities. Only 49 percent said they did outdoor
activities before the disease emerged, according to the China Daily
report.
People's spending habits are changing as their health awareness
increases, said Ling.
More than 79.3 percent of respondents said they are more likely to
buy fresh green vegetables, disinfectant and body-building
equipment in the future, while only 61.9 percent said they used
tomake such purchases.
A
bicycle shop in Beijing sold more than 6,000 bikes a day in late
May and some healthcare books have become bestsellers.
(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2003)
