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Young adults and smaller cities are drivers of bullish consumer intentions

China Confidential’s survey of consumer intentions reveals clear optimism for 2009, buoyed particularly by activity in second and third-tier cities and among young adults.

Consumer Survey: Computers

China's growing addiction to the internet is just one factor helping to underpin the robust demand for personal computers.

Consumer Survey: What do you plan to buy?

Computers, mobile phones and cars were in highest demand by respondents, while 3G services also look to be rallying consumer interest.

Consumer Survey: E-commerce

Online purchasing was especially popular among young adults, with 62% of 16-25-year-old respondents saying they shop online.

Consumer Survey: Travel

Almost half the respondents said they plan to increase holiday expenditure this year, and demand to travel to Taiwan is gathering pace.

Consumer Survey: Paid-for education

Survey results reveal demand by China's middle class for paid-for education and training courses remains buoyant, particularly within the English language training sector.

What lies behind Governor Zhou’s SDR proposal?

What exactly did Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of China's central bank, mean when he talked of a "super-national" currency for the world?

Is it time to buy China?

Are investors optimistic for a China rebound?

The G20: China’s show

Beijing's proposals for currency reform ahead of the G20 summit illustrate its burgeoning international influence and underline its plans to internationalise the renminbi.

March 19th – April 1st

Hu Jintao meets with US president Barack Obama; Beijing proposes a replacement reserve currency to the US dollar, then it signs a currency swap agreement with Argentina; Coca-Cola’s bid for Huiyuan gets blocked; some Oz resource deals get approved and Beijing raises gas and diesel prices.

China Going Global

Kerry Brown, China expert and Senior Fellow at Chatham House, a UK think tank, follows China’s surge in overseas direct investment and identifies four rules that characterise its flows.