Laptops and white goods – Apple gains on Lenovo, Haier strong in white goods

• Published 09 Sep 2010

Laptops are in hot demand with China's youth and high earners, while lower tier cities are driving demand for white goods.

LaptopsOverall, 65% of respondents said they planned to buy a laptop computer in the coming 12 months. Demand was inversely correlated with age – 72% of under 25-year-olds said they planned to buy a laptop, compared with 57% of over 40s. However, demand was directly correlated with income – 69% of those earning over Rmb 300,000 ($44,167, €34,648, £28,822) annually said they planned to buy a laptop, compared with 61% of those earning under Rmb 50,000.

China Confidential Funds

China Confidential Funds, a new research service launched by FT China Confidential, is dedicated to illuminating the mainland fund industry. Our team of fund industry experts in Shanghai search out the interesting trends in fund performance, strategy, interactions with overseas funds, regulatory changes, distribution and management. We also use a proprietary system to track the emerging flows of Chinese money. Click here to find out more.

Other Articles on this Issue

• Financial China

  Select financial charts

  Credit powers consumer activity

• Macro View

  Optimistic consumers

• The Big Call

  Survey shows strong consumer demand

• Consumer China

  Urban upper income group – big spenders, international tastes

  Urban middle income group – a Nokia, a Volkswagen and an eye on investments

  Rural migrant workers – buying domestic brands

  Rural discretionary consumer family – emerging from subsistence

  Urban low income group – self-improvers on the lowest urban rung

  Paid-for education – demand for English language tuition remains buoyant

  Mobile phones – Nokia losing share to Blackberry and Apple

  Health insurance – popularity of 'supplementary' insurance boosts key firms

  Cars – high-end models thrive as low-end stall

• The Best of Chinese Commentators

  Is car production reaching overcapacity?

  China's vacant housing

• Funds Data

  Flows to Taiwan falter

• Guest Column

  China's losers from healthcare reform

• View issue