Coupons prove effective in stimulating consumption amid the COVID-19 epidemic. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Coupons have proved effective in stimulating consumption amid the COVID-19 epidemic. 

Since April 17, a total of 110 million yuan ($15.9 million) in coupons have been issued in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. 

The coupons were issued in two phases. A total of 30 million yuan in coupons were released in the first phase, 89.4 percent of which have been utilized, resulting in 270 million yuan in consumption.

During the second phase, a total of 80 million yuan in coupons were issued, more than 19 percent of which had been used as of July 3, according to data from the Ningbo municipal bureau of commerce.

The coupons have led to spending increases at a number of commercial areas.

Statistics show that the number of shoppers at Tianyi Square, a renowned commercial area in downtown Ningbo, now stands at 210,000 per day on weekends, which is at nearly the same level as before the coronavirus outbreak.

Ningbo launched the coupon campaign in mid-April, directing the local government to coordinate with merchants to spur consumption. To date, more than 460,000 shops across the city have participated in the campaign. 

Yi Qiuping, head of the consumption promotion department of the Ningbo municipal bureau of commerce, said that the issuance of coupons has involved the government, businesses, shops, and consumers and has increased consumer supply and demand levels.