A workshop in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Ningbo’s online retail sales totaled 30.97 billion yuan ($4.29 billion) throughout the month-long Double 11 shopping extravaganza, marking a yearly uptick of 11.58 percent, as per official statistics.

Within this total, online retail sales of physical goods in the city hit 29.19 billion yuan, representing a substantial 94.27 percent of the overall sales figure.

Geographically, Cixi, a county-level city of Ningbo, along with Beilun district and Yinzhou district, emerged as the top three contributors to online retail sales, capturing market shares of 25 percent, 18.9 percent, and 16.92 percent, respectively.

Delving into product categories, home appliances and audio-visual equipment, clothing and textiles, and daily necessities emerged as the top three categories, constituting 27.31 percent, 22.63 percent, and 15.56 percent of online retail sales, respectively.

During the shopping frenzy in Ningbo, consumer preferences varied across different age groups. The tech-savvy post-2000s generation, known for their affinity towards the latest trends, displayed a strong preference for technology and digital products. Keyboards, smart wristbands, gaming laptops, wired headphones, and mouse pads stood out as the top five choices for these youthful shoppers.

Conversely, individuals from the 1980s generation leaned towards baby essentials, with baby bottles, shoes, toddler training pants, snacks, and diapers ranking as their top five purchases. The elderly demographic, emphasizing practicality, exhibited a preference for food, beverages, and health-related products during the shopping extravaganza.