Consumption rises during Golden Week

BEIJING -- Inexpensive mass consumption was popular among China's holiday-makers during the seven-day National Day holiday, or a Golden Week, highlighting the country's frugality drive.

Sales revenues of national retail and catering sectors reached 870 billion yuan ($142 billion) from Oct 1 to 7, rising 13.6 percent year-on-year, according to the report released Monday by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), China's top commerce regulator.

Services targeting mass consumption were popular during the holiday, as many high-end restaurants offered discounts and inexpensive choices to echo the national austerity drive.

HaiDiLao Hot Pot, a national hot pot chain from Southwest China's Sichuan province, recorded a 45 percent year-on-year revenue increase during the past seven days, according to MOC's report.

Mass entertainment services such as self-driving and outskirts trips also attracted holiday-makers as many places rolled out inexpensive but healthy entertainment services such as hot spring spas.