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China Other Consumer Goods
In the first thirty years of the People's Republic, many basic
consumer goods were scarce because of the emphasis on heavy
industry. However, the 1979 economic reform program resulted in a
consumer goods explosion. For example, television production
increased from approximately 0.5 million sets in 1978 to over 10
million by 1984. During the same period, bicycle output increased
about three and
one-half times, production of electric fans increased twelve-fold,
and the output of radios doubled. In the first half of 1985,
compared with the same period in 1984, production of television
sets, washing machines, electric fans, and refrigerators increased
dramatically. Refrigerators, washing machines, and televisions
included imported components. In 1985 economic planners decided to
limit production of refrigerators because they estimated that
supply would outstrip demand by 5.9 million units in 1990. The
following year, authorities curbed production of televisions
because of excessive output and an emphasis on quality.
Data as of July 1987
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