Retail enterprises in Chengdu have recently set up their own industry organization: Chengdu Retailers Association.

According to statistics published by Beijing Committee of Commerce (the former Beijing Bureau of Commerce) during the five days around the Qing Ming Festival, 35 Beijing retailers realized total sales of CNY444 million, a year-on-year increase of 1.33%, and daily average sales of CNY88.88 million.

Beijing-based supermarket and department store retailer Hualian has published its annual report for 2008, which states that its revenue increased by 16.43% to CNY8.618 billion in the period while its profits decreased by 47.49% to a mere CNY150 million.

Chinese retailer Ren Ren Le has opened its first store in Xiamen, Fujian and this store is expected to start trial operations at the end of March 2009.

Xiamen Zhongshan Laiya Department Store's 41 suppliers have formed an alliance to launch a lawsuit against the bankrupt department store and the case has been accepted by the People's Court of Siming District, Xiamen.

According to Zheng Wanhe, the chairman of Wangfujing Department Store, the company will take the downturn in the market as a period of expansion for Wangfujing and open four or five new outlets around China in 2009 to lay the foundation for its future development.