Data released by the China Electricity Council (CEC) shows that China generated 16.6 percent more electricity in the first two months of this year than it did during the same period of last year, a total of 447.966 billion kilowatt-hours.

The Shanghai Securities News reported that CEC had anticipated a 12.5 percent jump in energy output, but in fact it climbed as high as 16.6 percent. The rate of increment exceeds that of 2006. Electricity use in 2006 increased 13.99 percent over 2005. The amount of electricity generated is a direct reflection of economic operations. An increase in electricity consumption generally means an increase an increase in economic activity. The secondary industry is usually the primary consumer of electric power.

However, the Spring Festival was in the first two months of the year, and in previous years the amount of electricity consumed by the secondary industry has fallen during this period, as does electricity to electricity consumption overall. Some experts believe that the rapid increase in electricity generated during the first two months of the year reflects the strong momentum of economic growth. In terms of the energy structure, China has encouraged the use of substitute energy sources to reduce the volume of carbon dioxide being discharged. However, in the first two months of this year, the amount of energy generated by thermal power plants increased approximately 18 percent from the same period of last year, the largest of all the energy sectors. There was a 10 percent increase in hydraulic power output, reaching 41.63 billion kilowatt-hours.

ompany. AC-Nielson, found that on average, each Chinese person traveling overseas spends US$928. Tourists to Hong Kong spend US$772 per visit, while visitors to Europe spend US$1408 each time.

By People's Daily Online