China News Service, February 10 (Yang Haiyan) With the new year and new atmosphere, the gold and jewelry market has also ushered in a wave of consumption boom, and various holiday accessories have entered a hot-selling period. Reporters recently visited Shanghai's Yuyuan Garden and City God's Temple and found that major gold stores were crowded with customers, and the counters were crowded with consumers trying on and buying gold jewelry. Inquiries and transactions continued, and gold sales were booming in the Year of the Dragon.
The reporter saw that many gold product sales stores were crowded, and consumers were enthusiastic about buying gold. Some gold products related to the Year of the Dragon were even sold out. At present, the main consumers of gold jewelry are no longer limited to middle-aged and elderly people. Young people born after 1995 and 2000 have joined the "gold rush" camp during the Spring Festival in 2024, and they have emerged as a new force in the "gold rush".
Citizens and tourists are shopping for gold jewelry at Yuyuan Yijin Store. Photo by Yang Haiyan
"Most of them are young people. More than 1,000 zodiac dragon gold bars were sold in one day. Customers come to cash in gold every day." During the visit, the manager of a gold store told reporters that the number of people buying gold during the Spring Festival is increasing day by day. In addition to buying " "Three Golds", there are also many people who buy gold as a gift to their elders, children, and themselves, hoping to have good luck in the new year, a safe and happy family, and smooth work in the coming year.
"I want to buy myself a pendant for the Chinese New Year. It was recommended by a local friend in Shanghai. There are gold shops here and there are many styles." Mr. Chen, a 22-year-old office worker, asked why he chose to buy gold? He told reporters that in order to reward himself for a year's hard work, gold has more practical value than other gold and silver jewelry.
Why are young people so enthusiastic about “gold digging”? A gold salesperson in the Yuyuan area told reporters that this year young people are very fond of gold jewelry related to the Year of the Dragon, and sales have increased significantly. For example, dragon-shaped jewelry, Year of the Dragon commemorative gold bars, etc. are all best-selling products.
Major brands have also sensitively adjusted the design style of gold jewelry. On the basis of the traditional dignified and majestic shape, it also combines classical and modern temperament. Some cute and creative gold jewelry with dragon elements are favored by more and more young people. Consumer favor. In a gold shop near the Chenghuang Temple, a staff member told reporters, “Now the design of gold accessories is younger and will cater to the aesthetics of young people.”
Citizens and tourists are shopping for gold jewelry at Yuyuan Yijin Store. Photo by Yang Haiyan
In addition, some citizens choose to buy gold jewelry as New Year gifts for their children, which symbolizes health and safety. The Year of the Dragon zodiac series and small-gram gold transport beads have become the best-selling products. Some parents who took their children to buy gold told reporters that they wanted to join in the fun and buy some gold jewelry for their children in the New Year to bring happiness.
Gold and silver jewelry became the fastest growing category among all retail categories throughout the year. According to the latest statistics from the China Gold Association, national gold consumption in 2023 will be 1,089.69 tons, an increase of 8.78% compared with the same period in 2022. Among them, gold jewelry amounted to 706.48 tons, a year-on-year increase of 7.97%.
In 2023, the cumulative trading volume of all gold varieties on the Shanghai Gold Exchange was 41,500 tons bilaterally (20,800 tons unilaterally), a year-on-year increase of 7.09%, and the bilateral transaction volume was 18.57 trillion yuan (unilateral 9.28 trillion yuan), a year-on-year increase of 22.31% .
"I used to think it was tacky to bring gold, but now that I can afford it, I feel it's really fragrant. My mother is 49 years old this year, and I plan to buy her a gold jewelry with dragon elements as a surprise. "Ms. Zhou, a citizen born after 1995, told reporters.
Ms. Wang, a tourist born in the 2000s, told reporters that the 18-year-old adult gift her family gave her was a gold necklace, which she thought was a bit vulgar at the time.
Later, after she learned about the value-preserving properties and various styles of gold through social software, she also started to "plant grass". She came to Shanghai from Jiangsu to buy gold and buy new year's goods. Ms. Wang revealed to reporters, "I bought a small gold of 2 grams. beads, a gold ring, and zodiac products for my family, hoping to have good luck during the New Year." (End)