China's well-off families optimistic about future trend of Chinese economy

China's well-off families are optimistic about the Chinese economy in the future because the Climate Index of China's Wealth rose in January amid steady economic growth, a Bank of Communications report said today. 

The bimonthly index hit 140 points in January, up 3 percentage points from two months before and was 6 percentage points higher than that in January 2017, according to the report released by BoCom.

A reading above 100 indicates growth in wealth, while that below 100 represents deterioration.

All three main sub-indices rose, with that for income growth up markedly by 5 percentage points to 155. The economy climate index added 1 percentage point to 137, and the investment intention index gained 2 percentage points.

"The growth of these indices showed that well-off families are optimistic about the Chinese economy in the future," said Zhou Kunping, deputy general manager of the research and development department at BoCom.

China is working hard to drive its economy into one of high quality development, with the gross domestic product exceeding 80 trillion yuan (US$12.8 trillion) for the first time in 2017. This boosted people's confidence in the economy, and helped lift the overall climate index of China's wealth, the report said.

"The 5-percentage-point rise of the sub-index for income growth was to some extent due to the improved household finances," Zhou said. "Also, the strong performance of stocks in the beginning of the year buoyed returns on investment."

The investment willingness index rose due to people's greater intention to invest in current assets as they became confident their investment would be protected by stricter regulations, the report said.

BoCom surveyed 1,800 well-off families with annual after-tax incomes above 120,000 yuan in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as well as those with incomes over 100,000 yuan in Chengdu and others with incomes of over 80,000 yuan in another 21 major cities.