Booming chain store businesses offer more job opportunities in Chongqing

The metropolis of Chongqing in southwest China has witnessed a new peak in the performance of local chain store businesses during the first half of this year, and 201 new chain stores were set up locally in the six months, according to the local commerce committee.

The new establishments helped offer 18,000 job opportunities, said the committee.

Sales of local chain stores reached 9.4 billion yuan (1.13 billion US dollars) from January to June, up 28.2 percent year-on-year, accounting for 20.5 percent of local retail sales, 9.2 percentage points higher than the level of the corresponding period in 2003.

Local chain stores are involved in a wide variety of areas, ranging from general merchandise, oil products, tobacco, books, medicine, telecom products, foodstuff and garments to services.

Source: Xinhua