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Chinese consumers are optimistic about the economy and spending more on consumer goods in the first quarter of 2005.

According to a report released Thursday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the consumer confidence index reached 94.4 points in March, rising for the ninth consecutive month and 1.2 points more than December 2004.

The consumer confidence index in the first three months was 93.5, 93.9 and 94.4 points.

The index of consumers expectation of the economic prospect for the next few years are 94, 94.5 and 95.4 points in the first three months. While the index of consumer assessment of the current situation is a little lower, 92.7, 93 and 92.9 points in the first three months.

The report attributed the rise of expectation situation index to increased income expectations and growing intent on purchasing durable consumer goods.

NBS figures showed 64 percent of consumers believed their incomes were higher or equal to present income while the figure in January was 59 percent.

About 70 percent of the consumers were ready to buy durable goods in the first quarter.

Overall performance of national economy also led consumers to be optimistic about future economy, the report said. Figures show that 69 percent of consumers were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the performance of national economy. At the same time, about 60 percent of the consumers were optimistic about the performance of national economy in the coming 12 months