People queue to buy sugar figures at a shopping mall in Tongzhou district, Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: wxtzfb]

Consumer sales in Tongzhou district in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, registered a 7.1 percent year-on-year growth to 19.76 million yuan ($2.93 million) during this year's Spring Festival holiday on Jan 21-27, according to the district commerce bureau.

Commercial complexes were still the most popular destinations of local shoppers during the holiday.

Official statistics show that sales at the district's Wanda Plaza saw a year-on-year increase of 29.7 percent to 4.24 million yuan, while the sales of five supermarkets in Tongzhou reached 12.05 million yuan, an increase of 1.3 percent from the previous year.

In addition, the box office earnings for Chinese New Year movies in Tongzhou reached 5.72 million yuan.

Consumption growth is the result of preferential measures that authorities rolled out during the holiday.

For example, Tongzhou distributed consumption coupons worth over 2 million yuan during the week-long holiday and is distributing coupons worth 5 million yuan after Jan 27 to stimulate consumption.

The district also allowed residents to take public buses for free during the holiday, which led to more trips and consumption.